Friday afternoon at Levinsky Market, a date at HaMesila Park, neighbors gossiping in the dog park, story time at the community center – urban life is woven into the fabric of the public space and community institutions. Tel Aviv-Yafo maintains a vibrant urban space and is called the nonstop city for good reason.
The garden near the house, the sidewalks and the lighting, the activities at the community center, the public restrooms, the names of the streets – all these dictate women's sense of belonging, their sense of security and their access to the public space. Tel Aviv-Yafo is a city for all, and the Municipality is taking steps to ensure that all residents in the city enjoy representation, safety and freedom.
The chapter dealing with the public space and community institutions focuses on the important role of gender mainstreaming in city planning and in the management of local community institutions, with the aim being to ensure an inclusive, respectful and egalitarian space. The action items in this chapter include: using a gender lens when revising urban master plans, formulating gender-sensitive directives for planning and developing public spaces, increasing representation of women in public spaces (e.g., streets, buildings and municipal sites names), using gender-inclusive language on signage and in publications, and establishing a first-of-its-kind gender equality center in the city.