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Women's Leadership

While there have been important advances in women’s leadership in politics, as of November 1 2017, women make up only 7.2% of Heads of State and 6.2% Heads of Government. Data on women representatives in local government, including as mayors, heads of villages and towns, is not well collected and analyzed. The adoption of an SDG indicator on women’s representation in local government is a great step forward in tracking progress on gender balance, allowing for the systematic collection and analysis of data on women in local government. Women’s access to and continued role in leadership positions is challenged by a range of barriers, including discriminatory laws and practices, as well as social norms that prescribe traditional roles and attitudes towards women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles. Proactive gender-equality policies within political parties and local government structures, including quotas and special temporary measures, gender-sensitive approaches to electoral processes, support networks, mentoring, training, and engagement of male champions, can all help promote women’s role in political leadership. 

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January 29, 2020
FG gets report on women’s political participation in 2019 elections

A delegation of national and international partners, led by United Nations (UN) women, has presented to the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, a detailed report of a national conference to assess lessons learnt on women’s political parti

January 29, 2020
How to ensure election-related sexual violence never happens again

In the aftermath of the 2007-08 post-election violence, the Commission of Inquiry into the Post-Election Violence (Waki Commission) documented more than 900 sexual violence cases perpetrated by security agents and civilians against women, girls, men

Interviews

January 28, 2020
In Israel’s endless elections, female candidates have been the biggest losers

In mid-January, Israel’s political parties finalized their lists for what will hopefully be the last general election for a while.

January 28, 2020
Nigeria: Two women win Imo constituencies’ elections

The call for women to actively participate in politics has again yielded fruits as two women in Imo State have been declared winners in two out of three constituencies in which results have been announced in last weekend’s re-run/supplementary polls

Women human rights defenders: Insights from the struggle

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January 27, 2020

Women human rights defenders: Insights from the struggle

Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) have long played a central role in the advancement of human rights.

Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) have long played a central role in the advancement of human rights.

January 27, 2020
New media outlet covering the intersection of women and politics launches as 2020 election kicks off

The idea of creating a new media outlet focused on women came to Emily Ramshaw four years ago during her maternity leave. “But I was covered in spit-up and baby diapers, and I knew it was the wrong time,” she recalled.