South Asia Dialogue on Advancing Transformative Gender Social Norms to Enhance Women and Youth Participation and Representation in Leadership and Decision-Making

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is organizing a two-day South Asia Dialogue on Advancing Transformative Gender Social Norms to Enhance Women and Youth Participation and Representation in Leadership and Decision-Making. The Regional Dialogue is convened under the framework of the European Union (EU) funded Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative which is implemented in partnership with UN Women, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the overall coordination and leadership of UN Women. The regional dialogue will focus on six South Asia countries namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. 

The WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative is anchored in the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III which identifies advancing equal participation, representation and leadership as a key area of engagement for the EU in its external action plan. The first-ever EU Youth Action Plan in EU external action also includes increasing the voice and leadership of young people in policy and decision-making, especially young women, as a priority in line with the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–2024. Within this framework, the EU launched the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) which seeks to strengthen the rights, empowerment, and participation in public and political life of women and youth as key actors of democratic development. 

The Regional Dialogue in South Asia is conceptualized in recognition of the of the systematic challenges on advancing transformative social norms and women political participation and representation in the region. Despite legal reforms, symbolic milestones and increasing activism on women’s rights on political participation and representation, the South Asia region still experience significant barriers, especially, on gender disparity front. The Regional Dialogue is expected to bring about 30 - 35 women and men active in politics and leadership (in political parties/parliament/local government) including young women in politics and CSOs from the targeted South Asia countries. The Regional Dialogue will be conducted in English in Kathmandu, Nepal, on the 10TH and 11TH of September 2025. 

The main purpose of the Regional Dialogue is to promote transformative gender social norms by addressing the root causes of inequality and transforming the underlying social, legal, and economic structures that perpetuate gender inequalities in South Asia countries. Furthermore, the Regional Dialogue places emphasis on women’s capacities to exercise political agency (participation) and access political leadership and decision making at all levels (representative voice).  In addition, the Regional Dialogue aims to reinforce knowledge exchange/experiential sharing and lessons on good practices that promote/advance transformative gender social norms.

Specific Objectives: 

• Promote/inspire the advancement of transformative gender norms by addressing the discriminatory gender norms/perceptions, socio-cultural practices/attitudes and the underlying causes for gender inequalities/disparities. 

• Enhance women’s capacities to exercise political agency (participation) and access political leadership and decision making at all levels (representation/representative voice). 

• Strengthen knowledge exchange/experiential sharing and lessons on good practices that promote/advance transformative gender social norms, attitudes and behaviours. 

This is a closed event and attendance is strictly by formal invitation only.