Advocacy & Lobbying

Highlighted Resources

Substantive equality and women’s representation in public institutions

This brief explores how constitutional advocates for women’s equality in Myanmar can advance women’s representation and meaningful participation in public decision-making and institutions. It looks at how different countries have aimed to do this through their constitutions, and what lessons can be...

Special seats bill in Nigeria: Balancing representation through constitutional reforms

Global trends indicate the slow-paced progress in closing gender gaps across major dimensions of human development in different countries. Nigeria remains one of the poor performing countries with respect to closing its gender gaps, especially under political empowerment. In 2020, Nigeria ranked...

Project brief: Advancing gender equality and women's leadership in political and business life project

This project brief presents a short description of the Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Leadership in Political and Business Life Project implemented by UN Women Turkey with the financial support of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.The project's overall...

In a world increasingly defined by crises, we need women’s leadership like never before

We need more women in top leadership roles. We also need male leaders embracing the qualities women leaders exemplified throughout the pandemic. Nothing less than our future depends on it.Women are often unfairly criticized for being “too emotional” or “too soft,” yet it is the depth of emotional...

Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly, hosted an event dedicated to eliminating violence against women in politics on the sidelines of the 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown.

Calling for an end to violence against women in politics

At a special event hosted by Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly, on the sidelines of the 66th Commission on the Status of Women, leaders came together to call for concrete actions and responses to end violence against women in politics around the world.In his opening statement,...

Women in West Africa and the Sahel define strategies for a meaningful participation of women in decision-making

The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Ms Giovanie Biha, chaired the first edition of the annual Women's Forum for Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel, held on 14 and 15 March in Nouakchott, capital of the Islamic...

Creating new spaces. Women’s experiences of political participation in communities

Research on women’s political participation at the community level was undertaken by Womankind in four very different countries – Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nepal and Afghanistan. The work in each context intends to increase women’s political participation and voice. The time available for the research was...

Freedom House Freedom on the Net 2016. Silencing the Messenger: Communication Apps Under Pressure

Freedom House has published its new report ‘Freedom on the Net 2016. Silencing the Messenger: Communication Apps Under Pressure’. Internet freedom has declined for the sixth consecutive year, with more governments than ever before targeting social media and communication apps as a means of halting...

The SDGs and Prevention for Sustaining Peace: Exploring the Transformative Potential of the Goal on Gender Equality

With the adoption of the General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on sustaining peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a multilateral policy consensus is emerging around a common vision for peaceful societies. Building and promoting positive peace, rather than containing...

Unpacking Gender: The Humanitarian Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis in Jordan

With no political solution on the horizon to end the conflict in Syria, it is clear that humanitarian agencies must continue to prepare for a protracted conflict. In late 2013, the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) undertook an extensive literature review and a month-long field assessment in Jordan...

The Full Participation Report: NO CEILINGS

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the No Ceilings initiative of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation joined forces to assess the evidence on the gains and gaps in progress for women and girls over the past 20 years. They asked: What do women’s and girls’ lives look like...

Social Media: Advancing Women in Politics?

The rise of social media in the past decade has changed the political landscape - not only the way friends connect with one another, but also how people and public officials communicate. Elected officials and governments across the globe are able to engage directly with the people they represent on...