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A discussion circle on how women's caucuses and alliances can shape national policy agendas
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European Parliament:Call for quotas for women
Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2011-03-09 06:21
Summary:
Quotas are needed to ensure equal representation of women in the private and public sectors, agreed most participants in a meeting held by the EP Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee with national parliaments' representatives on Thursday, ahead of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on 8 March. Speakers also advocated changing national electoral rules to increase women's representation at local, regional and national level in politics.
UNDP: Women's Political Participation Needs to Increase, New Publication Says
Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Thu, 2010-04-08 13:26
Summary:
Democratic and economic transitions and development in the UNDP Europe and CIS region have taken place in the post-Soviet era without the full participation of a major segment of the population—women. The lack of participation by women weakens their position in political life and their social and economic prospects says a new publication by the United Nations Development Programme, issued on International Women’s Day, March 8. The publication examines this trend and advocates for changes to ensure that women too rise with the changing economic and political tides in the region.
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The publication, “Enhancing Women’s Political Participation. A Policy Note for Europe and CIS,” stresses that the active participation, equality and development of women is vital for securing peace, social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights. To help make that possible, the publication provides a set of recommendations and solutions for increasing women’s regional political participation. As part of that process, the publication showcases projects already in place in some countries—projects that have produced results and that could be replicated elsewhere. This includes projects implemented in Georgia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, which successfully strengthened the capacities of national stakeholders to put in place and strengthen an enabling environment for women’s political participation.
Such efforts come at a time when the number of women in parliament regionally is still below the critical mass of 30 percent considered necessary for women to contribute meaningfully to politics (the regional average is just over 15 percent).
But increasing women’s political participation also needs to go beyond the numbers, making sure gender issues become an integral part of political agendas. It is against this background that UNDP has developed the Policy Note for Europe and the CIS: "Enhancing Women’s Political Participation." The Policy Note builds upon an analysis of regional data and detailed outcomes from six national round tables (in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine) held in 2008, and a subsequent regional conference held in Istanbul in December 2008. The publication is intended for parliamentarians, civil servants at decision-making levels and civil society organizations promoting democratic governance in the region with a focus on ways to promote and strengthen women’s political participation, tailored to the regional context.
Created with the input of women’s rights activists, representatives of civil society organisations and academia, members of Parliament and Governments, the publication reflects the voice of this diverse group of people. The Policy Note takes the experiences made in this region forward by taking into account the lessons learned as part of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and provides a set of recommendations that offers solutions to address and counter-act the underlying causes of women’s political participation.
The Policy Note is divided into four sections:
- the first section is an overview of women’s political participation in the region, presenting current trends in political, economic and social differences between men and women in the region
- the second introduces country-specific practices related to women’s political participation
- the third presents a set of recommendations for gender equality and women’s political participation addressed to governments, legislators, parliamentarians, political parties, civil society organizations, the private sector and trade unions.
- The fourth provides a list of on-line resources.
Hardcopies of the publication are available at UNDP’s Bratislava regional Center (BRC) and can be requested by contacting Louise Sperl or Paula Jojart.
Enhancing Women’s Political Participation: A Policy Note for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
This Policy Note presents a set of pragmatic recommendations that will enable policy makers to enhance women’s political participation in the region. These measures are the product of six national roundtable discussions organized in 2008 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine as well as a regional conference in Turkey in December 2008. This Policy Note also presents the current status of, and opportunities for women’s participation in leadership and decision-making processes in the region. Based on the evidence and regional data collected and analysed, this Policy Note is for parliamentarians, government officials, legislators, political party members, civil society organizations working on enhancing women’s political participation and media with the recommended policy and action options in the following three areas:
1) Legal and institutional frameworks to promote women’s political participation;
2) Mechanisms and strategies to promote women’s political participation; and
3) Partnerships for women’s political participation: civil society organizations and the media.
New Realities Concerning European Left Wing Gender Equality Politics: Case Study from the South Eastern European Region
This report compares the situation and potential for action of women in South Eastern Europe and investigates party politics on gender equality.
Drafting Gender-Aware Legislation: How to Promote and Protect Gender Equality in CEE and CIS
The handbook provides a comparative overview of gender-aware legislation and practices in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. It also describes a comprehensive approach to influencing legislation and implementation processes, and provide detailed checklists for reference when analyzing legislation and its implementation.
Bridging the Gender Digital Divide
This report maps the situation of gender and ICTs in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, identifying trends, gaps, as well as some good practices. It focuses particularly on the integration of gender in relation to issues such as process and control, education, training and skills and development, and their use to enhance opportunities for human development.
KARAT Coalition
KARAT is a regional coalition that works to ensure gender equality in the CEE/CIS countries, monitors the implementation of international agreements and lobbies for the needs and concerns of women in the region at all levels of decision-making fora.
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.
