World Movement for Democracy - What's Being Done On . . .

What's Being Done On . . . Increasing Women's Participation in Politics ?

Main

Advocacy

Leadership & Decision-Making

Equal Participation
& Women's Empowerment

Voter Education

Links to Women's Organizations

Publications on Women's Political Participation

Interview with Mahnaz Afkhami, President, Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development and Peace, and Member of the World Movement Steering Committee.

World Movement Participants Database
Search for more information about groups for more information about groups working to increase women's participation in politics.

The August/September 2002 theme is Increasing Women's Participation in Politics. This issue highlights democracy-building organizations and groups around the world that promote women's access to leadership and decision-making positions, advocate for women's human rights, encourage equal participation, and provide voter education for women. These are illustrative examples of women's empowerment activities to encourage democrats to consider developing similar projects.

Women's participation and representation in the political realm and the overall topic of gender equality are vital components to the consolidation of a democracy. A number of groups conduct training and advocacy programs to enhance women's participation, implement projects to empower and mobilize women, and educate women and men on the overall importance of women's issues in politics.

At the World Movement's Second Assembly, the Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (www.learningpartnership.org) organized a workshop on "Strengthening Networks to Increase Women's Participation in Politics." The workshop participants discussed the lack of female representation in decision-making positions, and the importance of women's full and equal participation as a necessary requirement for development. General recommendations were formulated at the workshop, suggesting that human rights education be offered to boost women's action, stressing the importance of increasing discussion of gender issues at democracy conferences, recommending that the status of women be viewed as a key democracy indicator, and emphasizing the importance of training women's organizations in coalition building.

We encourage you to review the workshop report (www.wmd.org/second_assembly/functional/w-f2.html) and to send us any information on work your organization may be doing that is related to the recommendations listed. Please send the information via email to the or by fax to +1-202-293-0755.

About "What's Being Done On . . . "

For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889.