The theme for the International Women’s Day 2019 is “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”, that focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.

While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. Therefore, it is crucial to establish new legal frameworks on the equality of women in all aspects of their lives.

Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.

Local governments can play a decisive role in the achievement of a 50-50 Planet and in the fulfillment of the goals established in the SDGs, and specifically in the SDG5, by the year 2030, including more gender policies in its municipal agenda.

In this framework, the International Association of Educating Cities (IAEC) applauds initiatives such as the “Networks of Women without Violence” program in León, Mexico, through which work is being done to prevent violence against women in order to empower them, fostering equality and citizen participation through solidarity networks. One of the initiatives that won the Educating Cities Award 2018.