Webinar on Empowering Women through Lifelong Learning Held
The international webinar “Empowering Women through Lifelong Learning: The Role of Women’s Leadership in Learning Cities,” held on September 16, 2026, at the initiative of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) as part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) webinar series, aimed to examine the role of lifelong learning in creating equal opportunities for women and girls, strengthening their participation in urban decision-making, and sharing practical experiences from learning cities.
During the webinar, experts from international organizations examined the barriers to women’s participation in urban leadership and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that women and girls have access to the knowledge, skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to take part in decision-making processes. Other topics discussed included the digital divide, safety, public trust, and the need to take women’s needs into account when designing urban services and public spaces.
The webinar also featured experiences from several learning cities in empowering women through lifelong learning. In conclusion, it was emphasized that lifelong learning can play an effective role in strengthening women’s participation and leadership in cities, provided that learning opportunities are accompanied by mechanisms for participation, social support, access to services, safety, economic empowerment, and involvement in decision-making processes. The need to create ongoing opportunities for learning and leadership, while addressing future challenges such as climate change, conflicts, and technological developments, was also underscored.
To access the full webinar report, click here.
