Candidates for the 2024 local elections pledge to prioritise equality of gender equality
Gender equality and human rights brought many of the candidates in Sibiu for the local and European Parliament elections face to face with civil society.
On 23 May, A.L.E.G. organised the first debate in Sibiu in this election campaign, an important discussion about the integration of gender equality and human rights in local public policies in Sibiu county.
Photo credit: Mihail Nistor
Candidates for mayor of Sibiu, president of Sibiu County Council and for the European Parliament were invited to position themselves on six key areas for the local public agenda, detailed in the manifesto “Sibiu for equal rights“: accountable leadership anchored in human rights, ending gender-based violence, reproductive health, hosing justice, care, and mainstreaming gender equality.
All candidates present pledged to prioritise gender equality and human rights once in public office.
In the dedebate moderated by Georgiana Epure, president of A.L.E.G., the candidates answered questions from the audience, made up of representatives of civil society, academia and business.
Photo credit: Mihail Nistor
The event was attended by the main pro-European candidates for the June 9th elections for the positions of Mayor of Sibiu, President of the Sibiu County Council and for the European Parliament elections. The six candidates who responded to A.L.E.G.'s invitation were:
● Ruxandra Cibu Deaconu, ADU candidate for Sibiu mayor
● Adrian Echert, ADU candidate for the presidency of Sibiu County Council
● Ciprian Faraon, PUSL candidate for Sibiu mayoralty
● Lucian Alexandru Găvozdea, independent candidate for Sibiu mayor
● Dragoș Patriche, PUSL candidate for the presidency of Sibiu County Council
● Nicu Ștefănuță, independent candidate for the European Parliament
Photo credit: Mihail Nistor
Opening the event were Ana Bugneriu, executive director of the Sibiu Community Foundation, Mihai Rusu, sociologist and lecturer at “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, and Camelia Proca, executive director of A.L.E.G., underlining that gender equality and respect for human rights make communities happier and more democratic.
Photo credit: Silvana Armat, Turnul Sfatului
“Gender equality and respect for human rights in local public policies are essential for the sustainable development and social cohesion of communities. Girls and women interact differently with local infrastructure and services because of their sex and gender, because they are treated differently from boys and men, and have different needs and priorities. A.L.E.G. organised this event precisely to highlight that local policies are not gender neutral, and the needs and interests of women and girls must be reflected in local strategies, plans and budgets, and elected officials are directly responsible for this. We call on all candidates to commit to prioritising gender equality and human rights in their mandates,” said Georgiana Epure, president of A.L.E.G.
The event was streamed live and can be followed here
(min. 00:00 – introduction by the executive director of A.L.E.G.; min. 06:17 – panel with civil society representatives; min. 24:07 – presentation of the manifesto “Sibiu for equal rights”; min. 38 – interventions by the candidates and Q&A session with the public).
A summary of the event is reproduced by the local publication Turnul Sfatului here.
