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.

Le présent Guide a été élaboré pour guider les « nouveaux » qui ont été désignés comme Points focaux pour l’égalité des genres au sein des commissions nationales pour l’UNESCO et qui souhaitent obtenir des conseils, une motivation et une formation.

The Minimum Wage Law obliges every workplace to ensure that employees are familiar with the law and informed about changes in the amount of the minimum wage. This regulation is rarely respected in the Arab society. At the same time, payment of less than minimum wage is customary and affects especially female employees. Kayan translated the law into Arabic and produced this poster, displaying key information about the minimum wage. Kayan sent the poster to Arab employers in the private sector, randomly chosen. An accompanying letter explained employers` obligation to inform about the law, and suggested to hang the poster as an easy way to meet this obligation.

This paper explores some of most common questions on gender and develops a human rights-based approach to practical tools for democratic governance practitioners in terms of gender programming per Cluster. It also discusses strengthening responsive government institutions by working with local governments, creating access to justice and human rights, strengthening public administration framework and developing parliaments.