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Arab Countries: The release of the first edition of the report “Mapping Young Scholars’ Research on Women in Public Life in the MENA Region

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Mon, 2012-01-09 03:40

Summary: 

Young Arab scholars are increasingly interested in gender studies, the report shows, and their projects are as sophisticated as Western gender research in terms of methodology and theory. With the set criteria for inclusion and the compilation of data through the use of internet, 81 young scholars were located. The publication of those findings in the first edition constitutes only a beginning that will be pursued with further expansion and updating of the project.

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The press release and the database are attached


India: Women have a new advocate in Jairam Ramesh

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2011-11-02 05:08

Summary: 

Women have found a new advocate for them in the form of federal rural development minister Jairam Ramesh.

The outspoken minister Wednesday lent his support to passage of the contentious Women's reservation bill.

"Reservation for women is needed to increase their representation in parliament," Ramesh said.

The women's reservation bill is pending before the Lok Sabha for sometime as it continues to elude consensus. The bill, already passed by the Rajya Sabha, proposes to give 33 per cent reservation to women in parliament and state assemblies.

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To read the complete news visit GulfNews.

Published on 2 November 2011.


Parliamentary Oversight of Gender Equality

This handbook is designed to assist parliamentarians in carrying out their oversight role on gender by developing a better understanding of the concept, providing a summary of the budget cycle process, discussing gender budgeting, and examining the gender dimensions of parliamentary committees, as well as suggestions for changing attitudes as a strategy for achieving gender equality.

The Role of Parliamentary Committees in Mainstreaming Gender and Promoting the Status of Women

As part of its efforts to strengthen the capacity of parliaments to promote gender equality, the IPU convened a seminar for members of parliamentary bodies that deal with gender matters. The seminar, on The Role of Parliamentary Committees in Mainstreaming Gender and Promoting the Status of Women, was held in Geneva from 4 to 6 December 2006, and brought together over 100 parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from 36 countries.

This report serves not only as a record of the event, but also as a practical tool for parliaments and their members to pursue efforts to mainstream gender equality in their work. Whether it is through specialized parliamentary bodies on gender equality, or through conventional committee structures, parliamentarians are well placed to ensure that legislative outputs address the needs of all sectors of society. We hope that you draw inspiration from this report for your future work.

The Constituent Assembly of Nepal: An Agenda for Women

Nepal is making a new constitution, which will be a culmination of the People's Movement, and thus must be based on the aspirations of the people of Nepal. However gender-friendly Constitution may seem, it will not automatically lead to an increase in gender equality, but the process of constitution making creates an opportunity for women to make some significant progress towards the realisation of their rights. Women should not miss this chance.

There is significant number of women members of the Constituent Assembly. Some of these members are women with great knowledge and experience and understanding of the possibilities that the Constituent Assembly opens up for women. Some of the others may have a less clear idea of what a constitution is and how they can, through this process; contribute to the improvement of the position of women. The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues that women members of the Constituent Assembly, and those who in the broader society will be supporting them and hoping to work through them, will need to address in order to achieve a good constitution for the women of Nepal. It is not a paper of answers - it is more an agenda.

Gender-Sensitizing Commonwealth Parliaments

In February and March 2001 the CPA, with the assistance of the CPA Malaysia Branch and the approval of the CPA Executive Committee, arranged a Study Group in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Gender-Sensitizing Commonwealth Parliaments. The aims of the Study Group were set out as:

1. To share analyses, experiences and good practices of Standing Orders in Commonwealth Parliaments;
2. To identify concrete strategies and mechanisms to make Commonwealth Parliaments as gender-sensitive as possible;
3. To prioritize key areas for action, based on the recommendations of the Study Group.
 
This report Clerk of the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago and Rapporteur to the Group, identifies the issues discussed by the Study Group and presents to the reader the Group’s recommendations which will assist Parliaments and their Members to understand better the difficulties faced by women Parliamentarians. In a wider perspective, it is the Association’s hope that the extensive commentary and recommendations for future action will inform many of the current debates in national and sub-national Parliaments, both within and outside the Commonwealth, and have a substantial positive impact on the way in which Parliaments conduct their business.

Zimbabwe: Uplift Women, Acting President Urges

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2011-08-12 07:53

Summary: 

Acting President Joice Mujuru has called for concerted efforts in uplifting women as they are key in contributing to economic growth and sustainable development in Zimbabwe. 

Officially opening a 50/50 strategic meeting in Harare yesterday, Acting President Mujuru said gender justice and gender balance was key in the development of any country. 

"The discrepancies of women represented in various institutions call for more concerted efforts in uplifting the women's cause. Hence, the 50/50 strategy is critical in attaining gender equality in itself and is a pre-requisite of sustainable development," she said.

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To read the complete news please visit AllAfrica.com


IMO STATE GENDER AGENDA-SETTING INAUGURAL MEETING

johanele's picture
Submitted by johanele on Sun, 2011-07-03 02:25
2011-07-29 15:00
US/Eastern
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City & Province/State: 
Owerri, Imo State
Country: 
Nigeria
Venue: 


Owerri

Description: 

It is an engagement and agenda-setting meeting between the three female members and other gender-sensitive male members of the Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA) and representatives of the women of Imo State to chart a course for the effective mainstreaming of gender into all the programmes and activities of the IMHA.

The meeting is aimed at taking advantage of the new atmosphere of legitimacy and freedom thrown up in Imo State in the wake of the recent gubernatorial elections, to bring the issue of women and children in the state into greater visibility at the legislative and policy levels. It is important to note that women played major roles in the political struggle that brought Imo state to where it is at the moment. It is therefore important that this momentum and renewed consciousness is sustained to enable women to remain a major part of the emerging effort to entrench the democratic gains and expand the frontiers of democracy in Imo State and the entire South East Nigeria.

It is therefore the thinking of the coordinating organization, Development Dynamics, Nigeria (DD) that the engagement and agenda setting meeting is strategic and will be a good step in the effort to make women active players in the emerging process in the state. This initial meeting is intended to be followed by quarterly review meetings, as may be agreed to by all stakeholders at the initial meeting. The review meetings will receive updates, monitor progress and plan future activities.

We are depending solely on the support of partners for the hosting of the meeting.

The three female members of the IMHA have declared their full commitment to the realization of the Imo State Gender Agenda Process.

DD is therefore requesting to partner with you in the organization of this all important meeting. For further information you can contact Development Dynamics at; Phone: +2348035927419, Email: devdynamics@yahoo.com


Regional Seminar for Asian Parliaments : Preventing and responding to violence against women and girls: From legislation to effective enforcement

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Thu, 2011-05-26 15:29
2011-09-15
2011-09-18
US/Eastern
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City & Province/State: 
New Delhi
Country: 
India
Venue: 

TBC

Description: 

As part of its campaign Parliaments Take Action on Violence against Women, the IPU is organizing, with the Parliament of India, a seminar for Asian Parliaments on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls. This seminar aims to provide men and women parliamentarians of the region with the elements of a comprehensive and multisectoral response to violence against women and familiarize them with the components of legislation to effectively tackle this problem.

Special emphasis will be placed on prevention and parliamentary mechanisms to secure the effective enforcement of relevant legislation, including parliaments’ oversight and budgetary powers and their ability to monitor and facilitate the implementation of the law.

The seminar will take place in New Delhi from 15 to 17 September 2011. It will provide participants with an opportunity to:

  • Take stock of the situation regarding violence against women and girls in the region by highlighting the causes and consequences of this form of violence and the obstacles encountered in putting an end to it;
  • Gain understanding of the costs of VAW and gender implications of budgeting, both in theory and in practice;
  • Discuss the use of gender-responsive budgeting as an effective mechanism to support enforcement of anti-VAW legislation;
  • Examine different national monitoring mechanisms that can secure effective implementation of the anti-VAW legislation;
  • Discuss the opportunities and good practices in the prevention of violence against women;
  • Exchange of experiences between Parliaments of the region confronted with similar situations and challenges; and
  • Identify appropriate parliamentary action to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of women and girls and their right to a life free of violence.

Draft agenda

Information note


Uganda: First Woman Speaker of Parliament Changing Politics

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2011-05-25 01:51

Summary: 

Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (55) is changing the country’s political landscape and making history by becoming the first female speaker of Uganda’s parliament on May 19, 2011. 

And one of the first things she will do as speaker will be to ensure that parliament enacts the Marriage and Divorce Bill 2009 into law. The bill, in various forms, has been under consideration for forty years. Once enacted, the bill will recognise co-habitation in relation to property rights, among other things. 

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For more information, please visit IPS.