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News & Events Event Reports

Global Crises, Local Impacts Global Crises, Local Impacts & Women’s Caucus: A Joint Webinar

Publication Date:
06/05/2025
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Attacks Against Elected OfficialsGendered ThreatsGlobal Crises Local ImpactsSocial CohesionWomen’s Caucus

— 8 minutes reading time

This report provides a summary of discussions during the webinar and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Strong Cities Network Management Unit, Strong Cities members, event sponsors or participants.

Summary

On 6 May 2025, the Strong Cities Network convened a timely session as part of its webinar series on Global Crises, Local Impacts: Threats to Social Cohesion and How Cities Can Respond, spotlighting the leadership and lived experiences of women local leaders around the world. Hosted in collaboration with the Strong Cities Women’s Caucus, the webinar explored how cascading global crises, including wars, climate change, disinformation and forced migration, intersect with intensifying gendered threats against women in public life.

The session brought together Florence Namayanja, Mayor of Masaka City (Uganda), Munira Bakali, Councillor of Likanga Ward (Zomba City, Malawi), Shona Morrison, Councillor of Fochabers Lhanbryde Ward (Moray, Scotland) and President of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA); Maureen Chalmers, Councillor of Blantyre (South Lanarkshire, Scotland) and COSLA’s Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing; and Kate Nelson, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Mayor’s Office of Boise, (Idaho, United States). Panellists reflected on both their personal experiences and the institutional efforts their cities have pursued to build social cohesion, protect democracy and create inclusive local responses to gendered threats and harassment.

As the world contends with converging global challenges, this discussion underscored how women local leaders are not only on the frontlines of response but are also critical to leading change that is people-centred, community-driven and rooted in care and resilience.

Key Takeaways

  1. Women in public office at a local level face intensifying threats that are gendered, personal and silencing. Both the frequency and the gendered nature of threats are increasing, leading many women to opt out of public service.
  2. Legal protections often fall short of safeguarding elected female leaders, especially in online spaces. Due to legal loopholes and inconsistent law enforcement responses, those who make online threats and abuse often get away with it; thus, the cycle of online abuse continues.
  3. Social media can both inflame and unite: its impact depends on how cities use it. Their speed and wide reach allow social media platforms to be used to spread positivity towards women and increase community cohesion.  
  4. Community-led Efforts are Effective at Identifying and Addressing Gendered Hate. Ensuring information is reported accurately and quickly can help cities respond and treat the underlying causes of gendered hate. Community partnerships and youth engagement are vital for city resilience and response.

Key Themes

Bearing the Brunt: Gendered Threats in Public Life

Throughout the conversation, it was evident that women in local government are increasingly under threat, and not just politically. These threats are personal, often misogynistic and frequently violent. Kate Nelson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Boise Mayor’s Office (Idaho, United States), shared a chilling picture of the atmosphere in Boise, where Mayor Lauren McLean has received death threats, had protestors armed with automatic weapons gather outside City Hall and been the subject of targeted intimidation campaigns. “We need absolute, unequivocal support,” Nelson said. “We need men to step up and say. This is unacceptable.”

These threats span across the globe, as Likanga Ward Councillor, Munira Bakali (Zamba City, Malawi) shared that she has been harassed not only for being a woman in politics but also because of her religion and ethnicity. “They told me I’m not fit to be a councillor just because I’m a woman … sometimes they follow you even in the market and insult you just because you’re a female leader”, she said. Yet she chose not to step back. Instead, she included even her critics in local development programmes, proving through action that leadership is inclusive and determined.

Masaka City’s (Uganda) Mayor Florence Namayanja described similar experiences in her country, where she is the only female mayor among ten city leaders and faces constant scrutiny and sabotage. “Women leaders are subjected to standards that men are not,” she said. “We are ridiculed, our work questioned, our intentions distorted.”

In Scotland, Councillor Maureen Chalmers (Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland) and Councillor Shona Morrison (Fochabers Lhanbryde Ward, Moray, Scotland) spoke about the emotional toll and the urgency of safeguarding women in local office. “It’s not just the elected officials being targeted anymore,” Morrison noted. “Now it’s their families too.”

Laws Lag Behind: Gaps in Protection and Accountability

Speakers from across regions echoed the frustration of seeing legal systems struggle to keep up with the evolving nature of online and offline threats targeting local officials. In the United States, balancing freedom of speech with accountability has resulted in legal loopholes, leaving public officials exposed. Women are often left without recourse until threats escalate significantly, which can be deeply discouraging. “It feels that there are lots of loopholes making it nearly impossible to prosecute individuals,” said Kate Nelson, “and that is very disheartening and very frustrating at times”.

In Scotland, COSLA has raised concerns over disparities in how threats are treated depending on the level of government. Councillor Maureen Chalmers emphasised that online abuse is often not taken seriously enough, despite its long-term impact. Both she and Councillor Shona Morrison underscored the need for law enforcement and justice systems to catch up with digital realities and to respond consistently across all levels of governance.

Further, panellists agreed that fostering a culture where threatening behaviour is universally condemned can provide a layer of protection and solidarity.

Social Media: A Force for Harm or for Cohesion?

Social media emerged as a central theme in the discussion, both as a space where hate is amplified and as a tool for promoting peace. Speakers shared how organisations and governments can use social media as a tool for strengthening social cohesion by spreading positive and inclusive messaging, and keeping citizens informed about in-person community events that foster dialogue and relationship building. Councillor Maureen Chalmers highlighted the work of several organisations doing just this, including the Scottish Refugee Council, explaining that they recently “used social media to challenge much of the false information being shared across the various platforms in relation to asylum after the riots within the United Kingdom”.

Kate Nelson similarly described how Boise has used social media to reinforce the Mayor’s message of building “a city for everyone”. Despite intense backlash, she said the city has remained firm in its values, using digital channels to maintain transparency and reinforce community solidarity.

Community-led Efforts are Effective at Identifying and Addressing Hate

The discussion turned to local solutions that cities are already leading. In Malawi, Councillor of Zomba City’s Likanga Ward, Munira Bakali highlighted collaboration with police and community leaders to prevent violence and rebuild trust. Before violent acts occur, cities should take the time and effort to build relationships with community leaders and community-based organisations, as they have access to remote pockets of the community and are often trusted sources of information that can be relied upon in times of crisis. Mayor Florence Namayanja described how youth councils and women’s forums in Masaka City and other municipalities in Uganda serve as early warning systems for rising hate speech. “They are the eyes and ears of our city,” she said.

In Scotland, too, COSLA relies on partnerships with both the Scottish government and community-based organisations to encourage communities to take active roles in improving their own safety and wellbeing. Supporting events centred on culture and food have helped bridge divides and foster integration. Further, both Councillor Shona Morrison and Councillor Maureen Chalmers highlighted the role of inclusive education policies and community-based initiatives, stressing that local government must continue investing in young people as agents of change.

Conclusion

The webinar highlighted the urgent and evolving challenges faced by women in public leadership roles in cities, from gendered abuse and digital threats to the emotional toll of sustained harassment. Panellists emphasised that current legal frameworks often fail to meet the realities of modern abuse, particularly online, and called for stronger institutional reforms and societal norms that uphold dignity, safety and inclusion.

Yet this was not just a conversation about threats; it was also a powerful reminder of resilience. Across countries and contexts, panellists shared practical examples of how local leadership can help heal division and build civic trust. Inclusive cultural events, youth engagement and strong community partnerships emerged as essential strategies for fostering social cohesion.

As the webinar drew to a close, a shared message emerged: women in local government are confronting threats not just as individuals but on behalf of democracy itself, and must not only be protected, but meaningfully supported, respected and empowered to lead with courage and compassion. Their leadership is not simply a matter of representation; it is fundamental to the resilience of cities facing today’s converging global challenges.

The Strong Cities Network will continue to amplify these voices, provide platforms for exchange and advocate for investment in the leadership of women on the frontlines

Next Steps

This webinar was the third session in the 2025 Global Crises, Local Impacts series. The next event, scheduled for 9 July 2025, will focus on vehicle rammings as a form of targeted violence and explore how cities can prevent such attacks and support victims in their aftermath.

To stay informed on upcoming webinars and Strong Cities programming, please sign up for the Strong Cities Network’s mailing list.

Additional Resources

Contact Information 

For more information on this event or the Global Crises, Local Impacts Initiatives, please contact Eric Rosand, Executive Director, at [email protected]. 

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