Rota's Initiatives in Supporting Gender Equality
The city of Rota, represented by Deputy Mayor Encarna Niño, recently participated in an international workshop focused on gender equality held in Morocco. This initiative was made possible through the Andalusian Fund for Municipalities for International Solidarity, an organization that the Rota City Council is affiliated with, which actively promotes various cooperative actions in the realm of equality.
Encarna Niño's involvement was part of the "¡Equality NOW! Women’s Leadership in Municipal Politics for Territorial Equality" project (CAPPLI – Phase 2). This initiative builds upon the previous work of the Learning Community of Local Public Equality Policies (CAPPLI), which consists of female politicians from local governments in countries such as Morocco, Senegal, Mauritania, and Tunisia. The aim of this workshop was to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences among women in municipal politics, placing a strong emphasis on feminist leadership. During these sessions, participants shared both institutional experiences and personal stories, aimed at identifying strategies to overcome barriers, enhance capabilities, and foster transformative leadership grounded in equality.
Empowering Women through Local Policies
During her presentation, Encarna Niño elaborated on the evolution of gender equality policies in Spain, highlighting the proactive role that local government plays in effectively implementing these policies within their communities. She discussed the model employed by the Equality Delegation of the Rota City Council, which is characterized by an integral, transversal approach that remains close to the citizenry. This model perceives equality as a structural public policy that necessitates coordination across municipal areas, continuous planning, and actions aimed at prevention, awareness-raising, intervention, and participation.
Moreover, she stressed the significance of territorializing gender equality policies, emphasizing that these must be translated into concrete actions that positively affect the daily lives of women. In this context, she detailed several initiatives undertaken in Rota, including efforts to prevent gender-based violence—largely funded by the State Pact—coeducation in schools, women's empowerment and participation, and promoting shared responsibility and visibility for female talent.
Among the highlights from her discussion was the preventive work against gender-based violence, which operates on three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. She also described the efforts of a multidisciplinary team that ensures comprehensive support for victims. Additionally, she shared innovative coeducation experiences designed to promote equality from early childhood, along with participation programs that have successfully engaged hundreds of women in the social and community life of Rota.
Encarna Niño's participation in this international forum reflects the commitment and involvement of the Rota City Council in fostering cooperation and exchanging best practices in gender equality, thereby contributing to the strengthening of networks of women leaders at the local level and advancing towards more just and equitable societies.
As reported by rotaaldia.com.
