The Local Equality Action Plans (LEAPs) are the road maps that constitute the framework of the local equality policies fand incorporating equa-lity policies into administ-rative approaches of the local governments. That is why it was crucial that the LEAPs were prepared in a participatory process in the Programme cities, compliant with the targets of the UNJP. The main objective was to establish a continuously participatory process throughout the preparation stage of the LEAPs.

The process included the participation of local governments, local women’s NGOs, universities, representatives from local chambers of commerce, UNJP partners (United Nations, Ministry of Interior’s Research and Studies Center, Association for Training and Supporting Women Candidates– KA-DER, and Sabancı Foundation), the UNJP consultants and UNJP local facilitators.

The LEAPs were prepared to:

- Reflect local conditions that differentiate the cities, and include local problems and information specific to that city, both quantitatively and qualitatively,

- Include a list of actions and activities for gender equality for each city,

- Determine the local support for action areas and activities,

- Develop proposals for institutional restructuring specific to the features of each city.

Apart from establishing the LEAPs locally in the six cities, it was crucial to create an administrative model in line with the basic principles of the LEAPS, that is realistic within the legislative boundaries, applicable and fit to reach all of the cities in Turkey in the future

That was the premise behind preparing a Draft LEAP Framework that included the outputs and evaluations of the meetings that took place in the six cities leading to the establishment of the LEAPs, and that could serve as a model. The general strategic policies serving the main objective were grouped into seven categories on women’s problems, and the possible activities were listed under these categories. The Draft LEAP Framework was presented to the Programme partners in the partners meeting, incorporating their opinions.

During its eight-month period of preparation, individual evaluation of the LEAPs for each city and their overall evaluation took place in each stage. The necessary changes were made in a participatory approach, for creating a common language and a common approach, and preserving the local dynamics to enable the realization of the activities.

The lobbying activities run by local facilitators served very crucial in the preparation stage, in understanding the local dynamics and establishing communication. The realization of the LEAPs depend on their ownership by local partners, approval by local assemblies, further development of cooperation between local governments and women’s NGOs, careful implementation of the LEAPs to establish transparency, continuity and sustainability.

This, in turn, requires a new institutional structure for administration and ownership of the realization of the LEAPs, for monitoring, evaluation and coordination, and for the sustainability of the LEAPs. This new structure needs to include local women’s NGOs as active actors. A Local Equality Action Plan Committee was proposed as such a structure.

Primarily, local governments need to display political decisiveness in supporting the LEAPS in the local assemblies, and establish the equality units proposed in the LEAPs in their own structures. These will be very crucial steps towards the implementation of the LEAPs.

In this respect:

1. The cooperation among institutions providing local services, in terms of roles and responsibilities set in the LEAPs, need to be more clear.

2. The new service units proposed in the LEAPs need to established, and/or existing units need to be allocated to these services.

3. Local governments need to train service staff who will adapt gender equality approach to their work.

4. Social Services Province Directorates need to be supported, and present society centers and public training centers need to be more widespread and functional.

5. Strategic plans need to be revised for equality, budget allocations need to be revised accordingly, women’s NGOs need to be included into the planning and implementation of provision of health, education and cultural services, and women need to be positioned as the major part of the target group.

6. Service provision needs to be implemented in line with the new service definitions, focusing on equality, set in the Prime Ministry Circular 2006/17.

7. In order to increase women’s participation in local decision making, new avenues open to women in the legislations for local governments need to be put into use (inclusion into local assemblies, expert commissions, volunteer participation, women’s assemblies, etc.).

8. An infrastructure for women’s NGOs to show interest in urban problems need to be established.

In order for the UNJP to reach its targets, women’s NGOs need to be supported as a primary focus group.

In order for the local governments to perceive gender equality as an integral part of the provision of the public services they are responsible for, or simp-ly put, reach their target of becoming a Women Friendly City, they need to perceive the LEAPs as road maps, and realize the activities under these road maps.

In order for the two-year substantial work done within the pioneering UNJP to catalyze social change and development, and that it becomes sustainable, following need to be done:

1. The LEAPs within the UNJP need to be more far-reaching, and established for other cities in Turkey. This, not only, will help achieving the UNJP’S targets on protecting and promoting the human rights of women and girls, but also assist in the realization of the United Nations’ Millennium Year Development Goals, the EU rules of action for local governments, European Union’s Urban Criteria, as well as the strengthening of local go-vernments and local democracy.

2. The short-term LEAP activities in line with transforming the pilot cities into Women Friendly Cities within the UNJP need to be supported, implemented and monitored.

At least some of the projects proposed under the title of Urban Services in the UNJP needs to be implemented with clear outcomes (e.g. Implementation of similar projects like the Pilot Workshop in Van in other cities).

Yıldız Tokman participated in the ‘Women in Local Politics’ trainings, given by KA-DER (Association for Training and Supporting Women Candidates) under the UNJP, as an Expert Trainer and a member of KA-DER Ankara Executive Board.