According to UN data, although there are constitutional arrangements to ensure equality between men and women in 143 countries since 2014, joint efforts of all levels of government are needed to turn these initiatives into concrete steps in the field. In this regard, local governments, which have a command of the socio-cultural dynamics of the society to a large extent, are located in the center of this process.

UCLG-MEWA Committee on Gender Equality runs its activities in parallel with the global agendas such as the Beijing Declaration signed in 1995, the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life and the Sustainable Development Goals. The committee also encourages local initiatives to ensure equal opportunities for participation in political and social life in the region. It also conducts advocacy work on a global scale. In particular, the committee is monitoring equality efforts at the local level with the UCLG-MEWA Committee on Gender Equality Commitment on the Localization of Sustainable Development Goal 5.

The Committee operates in line with the following priorities, taking into account regional dynamics: