Background español / françóis / português

In 1998, within the framework of the Global Campaigns of the United Nations for Human Rights of Women and Girls and for Good Urban Governance, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Urban Management Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (UMP-LAC) and the Women in Habitat Programme - UN-HABITAT, and the Latin American and Caribbean Federation of Women in Local Government (FEMUM-LAC) launched the first of three regional competitions.

The second competition was held in 1999, and the third in 2003. The contests were established to reward affirmative actions that promote the participation of women in local decision-making - including the enforcement of actions guaranteed through policies - planning processes and programmes, while at the same time promoting innovative practices and methodologies. This programme has enlisted the involvement of over 100 cities in more than 10 countries.

In 1998-99, this initiative was disseminated under the name "Regional Competition on Outstanding Municipalities that Have Improved the Rights of Women". Later (2000-01 and 2002-03), the title of the two following competitions was "Affirmative Actions that Promote the Participation of Women in Local Decision Making".