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Internal Organization

Internal political party rules relevant to women’s participation include those regulating committee assignments, advancement procedures and power structures between internal bodies. For example, the charters of some political parties mandate that the head of the women’s wing is a de facto member of the party’s central executive committee, the highest decision-making body. You will find more information about internal organization here.

From the Library

Empowering Women for Stronger Political Parties

How women participate in political parties – and how those parties encourage and nurture women’s involvement and incorporate gender-equality issues – are key determinants of women’s political empowerment. They are also key to ensuring gender-equality issues are addressed in the wider society. If strategies to promote women’s involvement in the political process are to be effective, they should be linked to steps parties can take across the specific phases of the electoral cycle – the preelectoral, electoral and post-electoral phases – and to the organization and financing of the parties themselves. 
 
The most effective strategies to increase women’s participation in political parties combine reforms to political institutions with targeted support to women party activists within and outside party structures, women candidates and elected officials. These strategies require the cooperation of a variety of actors and political parties from across the political spectrum.
 
The Guide identifies targeted interventions that political parties can take to empower women. It is structured according to four phases, following an electoral cycle approach.

From Words to Action: Best Practices for Women's Political Participation in Latin American Political Parties

Even though women represent more than half of the voting population in many countries and have been widely incorporated into the economic sphere over the last decade, reality tells us that there is still an important gap between these advances and women's access to elected or political party positions. While considerable improvements have taken place in women's participation in political decision-making bodies, the numbers continue to show substantial levels of underrepresentation. In the eighteen Latin American countries examined in this study, there is an average of two women representative for every ten male mayors, and those countries with an Upper Chamber have less than two women Senators for every ten men.

In oder to resolve this asymmetry, and in response to the demands of socially and politically organized women - as well as the international consensus supporting them- several countries have chosen to include quota mechanisms in electoral regulations. These quotas have been functioning with greater or lesser effectiveness depending on the context and regulatory framework in which they are applied.

This manual provides political party members and leaders with the means to implement concrete strategies for achieving equality for women within party organizations and to access positions of power and representation.

More than a year of research and field work in 18 Latin American countries is condensed in this publication, which describe 95 "good practices" implemented by party organizations. It also analyzes the progress and the challenges still facing women in politics, both in the region and in each of the countries studied.

The production of an English version was undertaken by UNDP and was made possible through the generous support of the United Nation’s Development Programmes Gender Team, in the Bureau for Development Policy.

Consolidated Response on Best Practices Used by Political Parties to Promote Women in Politics

This consolidated response highlights strategies and policies that may be used in addition to gender quotas by political parties to increase the numbers of women in politics. The strategies described in this response include establishing women’s sections in political parties, providing women candidates with training and financial assistance to hold effective campaigns, creating a forum for women to lobby and discuss policy, and offering political parties incentives for promoting women in politics.

Consolidated Response on Women’s Caucuses and Their Impact on the Political Culture of Latin American Countries

This consolidated response analyzes the role and historical development of multi-party parliamentary women’s caucuses. The response looks into the goals, challenges and achievements of women's caucuses in parliaments in Latin American countries. It also highlights successful case studies from Latin America.

Intra-Party Democracy and the Inclusion of Women

This article analyzes the representation of women in political decision making positions and processes in SADC member states. It also describes intra-party electoral systems and procedures as well as quotas and special measures applied in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Consolidated response on how to promote a gender equality policy within a political party

This consolidated response analyses what a gender equality policy means and the key steps as well as concrete measures for developing a political party gender equality policy.

Overview of Strategies Applied in Bulgaria To Increase Women’s Participation And Representation

This report gives an overview of the strategies applied in Bulgaria to increase women’s political participation and representation. It highlights the increase in women’s political participation, particularly in Parliament, but emphasizes that there is still much work to be done to achieve gender balance in decision-making.

Internal Communication: A Critical Function for Political Parties

This presentation explains the importance of good internal communication. It describes how to use and maintain good communication within and outside the party.

Women’s Candidate Training Program

This manual provides training tips and workshop techniques for political party trainers to train Nepali women candidates for local government. It covers the following topics: the party ticketing process, building the party identity, election codes of conduct, campaign planning, developing a campaign message, and project monitoring and budgeting.

Political Parties in Asia: Promoting Reform And Combating Corruption In Eight Countries

This report presents the research findings of a project conducted by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and the Council for Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) on Political Party Strategies to Combat Corruption. The project aimed to identify existing strategies and mechanisms that political parties in Asia are employing to limit opportunities for corruption. The research focuses on eight countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.