Issues

Choosing the type of electoral system is one of the most important institutional decisions for any democracy. Electoral systems can be classified into groups based on the processes by which they translate votes into seats. The three main groups are plurality/majority systems, mixed systems and proportional systems, as well as others that do not fit easily into these categories.

Different electoral systems and laws can result in different outcomes in terms of the representation of women. The type of electoral system is, therefore, a key variable in accounting for why some countries have higher levels of female representation than others do. This Web site contains documents explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different electoral systems and how they can be used in combination with quotas to increase the representation of women and facilitate their participation.

From the Library

Getting Our History Right: How Were the Equal Rights of Women and Men Included in the Charter of the United Nations?

The article analyzes the founding conference of the United Nations to find out how a nearly completely male-dominated assembly proclaimed the
equal rights of men and women as part of the fundamental human rights. The participation and proceedings of the conference are studied on the basis of official UN documents,
autobiographies from women delegates and reports.

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Reproductive Health and Rights in the United Nations – Normative Action Amidst Political Controversy and Religious Contestation

The article follows the evolution of norms and policies related to reproductive health and rights in the United Nations from the first decades after World War II to 2007. The focus is on the policymaking processes related to the large world conferences, particularly on population and women during the 1970s, 80s and 90s and the follow-up meetings around and after the turn of the century.

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European Women's Lobby 50/50 Campaign

The “50/50 Campaign for Democracy” of the European Women’s Lobby is a push for concrete action to increase women’s presence in politics and in the 2009 European Parliament elections. 5050_campaign The Campaign is endorsed by prominent personalities across Europe such as President and Vice President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and Margot Wallström, Nobel Price winner Orhan Pamuk, Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme, Slovenian President Danilo Türk, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson and former President of the European Parliament Simone Veil.

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European Women's Lobby Lobbying Kit on Parity Democracy

The Kit has been produced in the context of the EWL Campaign “No Modern European Democracy without Gender Equality” to be launched officially in September 2009. The Kit comprises of two sections. In the first section, you will find an Action Kit, which includes all the steps that you can take to improve the presence of women in European decision-making. The second section provides in-depth information and clarifies certain myths in relation to parity democracy and quotas. The Kit aims at helping women’s non-governmental organizations and other interested actors to put pressure on political parties and decision-makers to introduce measures to advance parity in view of the EP elections and the nominations to be made for EU top jobs in 2009.

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