Women bring important skills, attributes, and perspectives to the governance process. Few times offer policymakers as good an opportunity to increase the number of women participating in government as those windows immediately after conflicts. Those women who have successfully entered government have tended to build governance systems that are more stable and transparent, and more often accepted as legitimate by society. They have demonstrated the ability to bridge political divides, highlight women’s concerns, facilitate a consultative and participatory approach to policymaking, and press for government accountability. Despite their documented contributions, they are largely excluded.

In October 2000, the UN Security Council mandated women’s full participation in peace building in Resolution 1325. Few policymakers, however, know how to fulfill this obligation. This guide intends to provide the international community with concrete strategies to successfully bring women into government.

This publication presents case studies of Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Rwanda.

Top recommendations
These policies are proven to increase women’s participation in government (see page 4 for complete list of recommendations):

1. Demand women’s inclusion in transitional institutions, especially constitution-drafting bodies.
2. Support constitutional provisions, such as parliamentary and executive branch quotas, that guarantee women’s participation in all branches and at all levels of government.
3. Establish election mechanisms that advance women’s representation, including quotas for political parties, indirect elections, and proportional representation systems with closed ("zippered") lists, which alternate the names of male and female candidates.
4. Support electoral systems that require voters to select male and female candidates.

About the Series
Strategies for Policymakers condenses a decade of research and direct input from leading peace builders into concise recommendations for ensuring the extensive involvement of women in peace processes. Each guide consists of a set of best practices highlighting policies and programs proven to increase women’s participation, as well as stories of countries that have shown these mechanisms better involve women in all stages of the peace-building process.