Electoral Systems and Laws

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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

E-learning Courses: Anti Corruption

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark - Competence Centre has recently launched the E-learning Portal, which is a new edition of our web platform for distribution of e-learning courses and related online activities. This notice informs external users about the changes while more general information about the launch can be found in a separate notice on the e-learning portal. External users in this regard are defined as everybody, who are not registered as MFA staff.

The access to the E-learning Portal and the new design might be the first noticeable change for external users. External websites like the Train4Dev website now links directly to the new E-learning Portal and you can use your existing username and password to access your e-learning courses.

Please click on the URL below to access information about the ecourses and the process of signing up.

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eLearning Course on Effective Electoral Assistance

The European Commission (EC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) are pleased to announce the arrival of the pioneer eLearning Course on Effective Electoral Assistance. The Course has been developed within the Train4Dev initiative and in collaboration with International Organization for Migration (IOM), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Organization for American States (OAS) and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affiars.

The overarching objective of the eLearning Course on Effective Electoral Assistance is to make the electoral assistance community to deliver more effective assistance in line with the main principles informing the Paris Declaration (2005) and the Accra Agenda for Action (2008) regards ownership, alignment, harmonization, results and accountability. Development of the capacities of electoral assistance providers (multilateral and bilateral agencies and international organizations) as well those receiving assistance (national electoral management bodies and other electoral stakeholders) is vital in improving assistance effectiveness.

The eLearning Course is developed on the basis of the face-to-face Joint EC-UNDP-IDEA Joint Training on Effective Electoral Assistance. The first training of this type was organized in September 2006 in Brussels and since then the training has developed tremendously in terms of the audience, the experts contributing and the curriculum.

To find further details please visit E-Learning Portal.

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Electoral Financing to Advance Women’s Political Participation: A Guide for UNDP Support

This primer offers an introduction to the intersection of gender and electoral financing. The primer outlines the role that political systems play in shaping electoral financing options and outcomes, and gives a summary of basic campaign financing constraints that women face.

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Quick Entry Points to Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in Democratic Governance Clusters

This paper explores some of most common questions on gender and develops a human rights-based approach to practical tools for democratic governance practitioners in terms of gender programming per Cluster. It also discusses strengthening responsive government institutions by working with local governments, creating access to justice and human rights, strengthening public administration framework and developing parliaments.

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Consolidated Response on Gender Quotas in African Countries

This consolidated response highlights various types of quotas adopted in African countries and provides details on the implementation of quotas under different electoral systems. The response also includes several annexes with data on quotas based on country and on quota type.

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Consolidated Response on Gender Mainstreaming in the Americas

This consolidated response highlights some of the important aspects and examples of mainstreaming gender into legislative frameworks in the Americas. Some of these include the creation of national machineries to promote gender equal policies, the impact of international conventions and agreements on governments’ commitment to advance gender equality, and the use of gender-sensitive budgets and initiatives as a tool to promote equal economic and social opportunities for both men and women.

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A Digest of Case Law on the Human Rights of Women (Asia Pacific)

This is a collation of case summaries from the Asia Pacific region citing CEDAW, National Constitutions, and other Human Rights instruments protecting equality of rights between men and women.

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Consolidated Response on Financing Women Candidates in Muslim Countries

This consolidated response highlights barriers faced by women in Muslim countries in funding their political campaigns and participating in public life. The consolidated response also discusses the impact of existing legislation, political parties, women’s organizations and international institutions on women’s participation in politics in these countries and provides strategies to overcome it.

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Decentralization, Local Power and Women’s Rights: Global Trends in Participation, Representation and Access to Public Services

This summary report outlines the main outcomes of the IDRC sponsored conference on Women's Political Participation and Access to Basic Services in the Context of Decentralization. The summary highlights findings of the research conducted on the impact of decentralization on citizens, specially on historically excluded groups such as women, poor people, and racial, ethnic, sexual, and religious minorities. It also includes recommendations on strategies to be employed in all legislation, policy, and other mechanisms related to decentralization and local governance.

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Consolidated response on commentaries and suggestions to the UN-INSTRAW tool for electoral systems

This consolidated response in based on the commentaries and suggestions of an experts´ group about an analysis tool for electoral systems from a gender perspective elaborated by UN-INSTRAW.

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