Feminist Cities: Social-Democratic leaders call on cities to make urban spaces safer and more inclusive

14 October 2025, Brussels 

The Party of European Socialists (PES) Group in the European Committee of the Regions today hosted a high-level workshop at the European Week of Regions and Cities, urging local and regional authorities across Europe to put gender equality at the heart of urban planning. 

Under the title “Feminist Cities are Progressive Cities: Designing Urban Spaces for All,” the event brought together progressive leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss how feminist urban planning and gender budgeting can transform cities into safer, fairer, and more inclusive places for all residents. 

Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, shared his views: “In Athens, we are translating feminist principles into concrete urban policies from safer mobility and better-lit public spaces to inclusive green areas and participatory budgeting that reflects the real needs of residents. Building a feminist city means planning for equality, sustainability, and trust. It is about using data, participation, and innovation to make every neighbourhood safer and every citizen visible. This is how we move from symbolic commitments to tangible change, ensuring that our cities serve all, not just a few.” 

Luca Menesini, President of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions and President of the Municipal Council of Capannori (Italy), stressed that: “Feminist cities are a political project. As progressive local leaders, we know that the way we design our cities reflects the kind of society we want to build. With the PES Group’s #SafePlace4Women campaign, we are proving that local and regional authorities have the power to transform our urban spaces. Feminist cities are caring cities. They are fair, equal, and democratic. And they are the future of Europe." 

Lina Gálvez, Member of the European Parliament (S&D, Spain) and Chair of the FEMM Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, underlined the economic and democratic urgency of feminist urbanism: “Building feminist cities means rethinking the core principles of how we plan and manage urban areas. We must elevate equality, care, and safety from mere afterthoughts to the foundational principles for local democracy and true social justice. 

Feminist urbanism is an indispensable tool for forging fairer societies and stronger democracies. Furthermore, this requires innovation not just in technology, but in governance and planning, ensuring that urban development and smart cities are truly gender-sensitive and inclusive.” 

Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions, closed the session with a call to accelerate change: “A feminist city is one that plans with women’s lives in mind, seeing the world through every woman’s daily route, from home to school, from care to work, and making that journey safer, closer, and fairer. 

It means city planning that reflects women’s mobility and care work: shorter distances between housing, schools, healthcare, and green spaces; routes and stops designed for those balancing paid and unpaid work; and parks and pathways redesigned with better lighting and clear sightlines. When we plan this way, we build cities that inspire confidence, strengthen participation, and foster equality for everyone." 

The PES Group set out clear requests to local and regional authorities: 

“Feminist Cities” is not just a vision but a political necessity for inclusive democracy, sustainable development, and the daily lives of millions of people in Europe. 

Background information