Advocacy & Lobbying

The Representation of the People Act 1918 was undoubtedly a significant step forward for women’s rights and democracy.

It gave the to vote to around 8.5million women previously disenfranchised and abolished almost all property restrictions on men.

One hundred years later and both men and women UK residents aged 18 and over are entitled to cast their vote on polling day.

BEIRUT — In a country where women occupy only three percent of the parliament seats, Lebanon's first women's affairs minister — a man — is supporting a campaign to attract more women politicians.

The government's decision to appoint him as women's minister in 2016 attracted some criticism. But Jean Oghassabian said the responsibility to support gender equality is not limited to a woman.

Lebanon is campaigning to get at least five times more women elected to Parliament this spring in its first vote in nearly 10 years, the country’s first women’s affairs minister says. It is a daunting task for a Middle Eastern country that may otherwise look like one of the most liberal in the region.

The Federation of Women Lawyers has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of treating women as ‘second class citizens’ after he failed to name any of them in his first batch of nine members of the Cabinet.

Fida said that in retaining only six men in his Cabinet, and naming three more as new entrants, he had failed to acknowledge the contribution women had made to the nation in the Cabinet.

The head of Tonga's Civil Society Forum says getting more women into parliament is everyone's responsibility and it is time for more gender balance in Tongan politics.

Siale 'Ilolahia says the early election in November is an opportunity for Tongan women to come forward.

The secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Dame Meg Taylor wants to put more effort into empowering women leaders.