Women's Leadership

In July 2021, UN Women convened the global conference “Gender-inclusive peace processes: Strengthening women’s meaningful participation through constituency building”, in partnership with CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, and with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The conference attracted the participation of more than 320 peace practitioners from 70 countries worldwide, with a focus on the MENA region. 

This report on the conference proceedings explores current challenges, best practices, and recommendations on how best to leverage the practice of constituency building to further gender-inclusive peace.

Click here to read the full report.

Australians want to see more women in politics, new research has found. The research - conducted by Women for Election, an organisation which provides support and training to women wanting to enter politics - found 69 per cent of people surveyed agreed more diversity in politics would lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Despite representing more than half the population, women are currently under-represented at all levels of Australian government

Click here to read the full article published by The Camberra Times on 7 December 2021.

There are fewer women in politics in the Pacific Islands than in any other part of the world, according to UN Women. But this year Samoa elected a woman as its head of government - only the second Pacific Island nation to do so - thanks in part to a network of women friends who supported her every step of the way.

"This is the margarita circle," the first woman prime minister of Samoa says, raising a salt-rimmed cup. "It's a place for honest confessions.” Her friends raise their glasses. "Manuia!" they reply - “Cheers!" It's a Sunday afternoon and a group of around 10 have just left the village church to gather for a buffet lunch on the veranda of Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's family home in Lotofaga village.

Click here to read the full article published by BBC on 8 December 2021.

Women are still under-represented in Parliament. Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar made the remark in her response to President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere’s Parliament opening address. “I emphasise that we, as a people, must take steps to ensure that our women are fully empowered to actively participate in our economy,” Ms Akbar said.

She reiterated what Ratu Wiliame said about public participation saying that it is not only the constitutional right of all Fijians, she is talking about the age to vote, but also to be able to contest elections, and she encouraged more women who aspire to attain political leadership or intend to go on the path to do so.

Click here to read the full article published by The Fiji Times on 13 December 2021.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) launched 'She is a Changemaker' programme for women politicians on December 7, 2021. The pan-India capacity building programme has been launched for women representatives at all levels, from gram panchayats to the parliament including political workers and office bearers of national and state-level political parties.

The capacity building programme will be undertaken in coordination with region-wise training institutes. The main objective of the programme will be to undertake capacity building of women political leaders.

Click here to read the full article published by Jagran Josh on 8 December 2021.

In December 2020, the European Commission released its third Gender Action Plan (GAP III), which lays out how the European Union should promote gender equality in its external relations over the following five years. Just like its predecessor, the new plan highlights women’s equal political voice and participation as one of the EU’s central gender-equality priorities.

The EU’s renewed commitment to women’s equal political participation comes at a critical time. Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout have deepened existing gender inequities. At the same time, women in most societies—including in the EU—remain woefully underrepresented in political decisionmaking, particularly at the highest levels. Their continued marginalization violates women’s rights to equal political citizenship and representation. It also weakens the legitimacy and effectiveness of democratic institutions: women bring distinct policy priorities to the table and raise the likelihood that political decisions respond to the needs of all citizens, including women and girls.

Click here to read the full article published by Carnegie Europe on 6 December 2021.