By Alice Kantor

Few feminist policies have been campaign talking points during the election.

On Sunday, the French head to the polls to elect their next president. After the first round two weeks ago, there are two candidates on the ballot: centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen.

Election observers warn that rampant hate speech could result in violence.

Colombia’s election observers warned that hate speech targeting the running mate of presidential candidate Gustavo Petro could result in violence.

Vice-presidential candidate Francia Marquez said Monday that she had received three death threats in the past month.

In a good example of parliamentary outreach to young people, the second edition of the Guyana National Youth Debating Competition takes place on Friday, 8 April. Some 16 youth groups will participate in the event with the objective of connecting young people to parliament.

BEIRUT  — When the March 15 filing deadline for candidates to register in May's parliamentary elections had passed, 157 women* had signed up to run making up some 15 percent of the 1,043 total candidates, compared to 11 percent in the 2018 polls.

They included both new and old faces, members of establishment political parties and of a range of opposition groups.

Female politicians still face numerous obstacles despite momentum for change.

On a sunny afternoon near a busy motorway in Beirut, former Lebanese MP Paula Yacoubian sits in the headquarters of her charitable organisation.

As Timor-Leste looks to its presidential elections on Saturday, several female candidates are standing. Will they persuade the new generation of voters of a need for a greater voice in politics?

Women are increasingly taking up more leadership roles in the 2022 Timor-Leste presidential election, with the number of contenders doubling on previous years.