Although much of the iKNOW Politics network is dedicated to increasing women’s political knowledge and participation, there are a number of skills that, while not explicitly political, are necessary to succeed in politics.
Many female students, mostly of government colleges, are getting attracted towards political activities and getting actively involved in it. They say they are involved in student politics to work for students, and are moving ahead with male counterparts in the political path.
Ishu Lama, Treasurer of FSU at Pashupati Multiple Campus, Chabahil has been involved in student politics for the last five years. “I find politics is the best place if you want to do good for someone where you can make policies for others benefit,” cited Lama.
Read the complete story at The Himalayan Times, published 7 February 2012.
Pooja Gujjar is the deputy “sarpanch” – Hindi for leader – of her school’s Bal Panchayat in the village of Chaudhula, Viratnagar, Rajasthan, and she’s 11 years old. The Bal, or “children’s” Panchayat, is promoted by non-profit organizations across India to encourage children in rural areas to improve their own lives, as well as work with the Gram Panchayat to implement their initiatives.
Pooja’s experience in the Bal Panchayat holds real potential. The 73rd Amendment, which was implemented in 1993 to give constitutional mandate to the Panchayat system, requires that no less than one-third of all seats be reserved for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and women. The amendment has given women, in particular lower caste women, the impetus and government support to seek power in a patriarchal society, where women have historically played a subservient role, not least of all in politics.
Read the complete story at The New York Times, published 1 February 2012.
After many years of advocacy, women’s groups and activists watched as the Parliament of Papua New Guinea (PNG) voted to amend the constitution and create an additional 22 reserved seats for women. The 22 seats will be added to the current seats in parliament, held by 108 men and only one woman. Parliament also needs to pass an organic law on the reserved seats by a super majority of 73 votes. Parliament also needs to pass an organic law on the reserved seats by a super majority of 73 votes in order for it to go into effect.
IFES conducted a lobby training program for 25 activists as part of the U.S. State Department’s Women Advocating for Voices in Government project, working closely with the National Council for Women (NCW). One of the highlights of the training was a presentation by Dr. Eric Kwa, professor at the PNG University Law School, on how a bill becomes a law. Many participants did not understand the legislative process and few knew that the constitution was the supreme law of the land or that parliament could suspend rules and pass a law in one day.
To read the complete story visit the IFES website, published 24 January 2012. For additional information and too view photos from the training visit this link.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) will soon start training women who are actively involved in developmental work with various political parties, but don’t get a chance to be in mainstream politics.
Besides those who are into active politics, the workshops will also target women in developmental work and those in an ‘alternative’ political space. “A primary reason of our involvement here is because we see women in politics as a mode of their empowerment and a tool of social change,” she said. Training will be given in areas like the roles of a municipal body, how to prepare the budget and ways to speak up in meetings. “We will train them in advocacy and ways in which political parties operate in urban spaces. Women who do a lot of work on ground are rarely aware of how to engage themselves in electoral politics or be vocal. We want to change this,” Bhide said.
Read the complete story at the Indian Express, published 30 January 2012.
Dr Marilyn Wyatt, wife of US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron P.Munter Saturday appreciated the legislation done by Pakistan’s parliament especially related to women for their empowerment and to give them due rights and for their protection.
Dr Wyatt said while 2011 was very good year for the women of Pakistan as during this year, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed laws stiffening the punishment for acid attacks on women and punishing such practices as marrying off young girls to settle tribal disputes, there was still much to do.
Read the complete story at the Pakistan Observer, published January 29, 2012.
Amari Watergate Hotel
From the 3-10 February 2012, twenty-two women peace advocates from the N-Peace Network countries – Nepal, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka and Indonesia – will participant in the first N-Peace Network Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Asia Pacific Regional Centre (APRC), in partnership with the Institute for Inclusive Security and supported by the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development (AusAID).
The ToT is being carried out with the aim of increasing women’s knowledge, skills, and capacities to advocate for peace and security. To view the profiles of the first N-peace Network Trainers who will take part in the ToT click here.
The eight day workshop will provide a space to discuss and unpack gender and peace building issues and the Women, Peace & Security (WPS) agenda, while also building upon participants’ practical skills in the areas of training, advocacy and communications.
To view the workshop agenda click here.
This e-Primer looks at information and communications technology (ICT) for development through a gender lens. It provides a gender perspectives to issues of ICT policies; access and control; education, training and skill development; and content development, and introduces a framework to integrate gender in ICT for development and empower women.
The Landmark Hotel, Bangkok
The International Executive Media and TV Workshop (IEMTW) is CDC’s flagship course. It is an intensive three day course targeted at communication practitioners, technical project staff and media focal points working for UN agencies; civil society organizations; and public institutions. It specifically addresses gender dimensions of media interviews, and CDC has used this curriculum to train women politicians in Tunisia and Mongolia. see http://www.cendevcom.org/workshops_and_training/international-executive-media-and-tv-workshops/
