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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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Does exposure to gender role models increase women’s political ambition? A field experiment with politicians

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September 10, 2019

Does exposure to gender role models increase women’s political ambition? A field experiment with politicians

There is a persistent gender gap in motivations to run for political office.

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There is a persistent gender gap in motivations to run for political office.

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Women in politics deterred by structural barriers, study finds

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Women in politics deterred by structural barriers, study finds

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Issues around sexism and work-life balance contribute to the dearth of women in politics, a new study has found.

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Issues around sexism and work-life balance contribute to the dearth of women in politics, a new study has found.

Interviews

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A new face in Kosovo looks to transform the role of women in politics

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A new face in Kosovo looks to transform the role of women in politics

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Political apathy is increasing in Kosovo and political parties are trying to reach new constituencies. TRT World spoke to one new candidate who wants to make a difference.

Pristina, Kosovo - As Kosovo heads for arguably its most important elections in the past two decades, I sat down with one of the candidates seeking to enter parliament for the first time.

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TRT World

Political apathy is increasing in Kosovo and political parties are trying to reach new constituencies. TRT World spoke to one new candidate who wants to make a difference.

Pristina, Kosovo - As Kosovo heads for arguably its most important elections in the past two decades, I sat down with one of the candidates seeking to enter parliament for the first time.

World News

Why equal participation of women, men in politics vital for development

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Why equal participation of women, men in politics vital for development

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It has been revealed that Tanzania was making some effort to promote women in leadership, yet advances are going at a slow pace in many of the top political leadership positions.

Speaking recently in Dar es Salaam during women’s leadership and political participation half day seminar, executive director of TGNP Mtando, Lilian Liundi (pictured) has said that the community has negative mentality and perception on women participation in political leadership.

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It has been revealed that Tanzania was making some effort to promote women in leadership, yet advances are going at a slow pace in many of the top political leadership positions.

Speaking recently in Dar es Salaam during women’s leadership and political participation half day seminar, executive director of TGNP Mtando, Lilian Liundi (pictured) has said that the community has negative mentality and perception on women participation in political leadership.

World News

For Rohingya women, refugee elections bring new opportunities – and new problems

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For Rohingya women, refugee elections bring new opportunities – and new problems

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Romida Begum sat on a chair in her tent home. Nearby, her older male assistant eyed her with a sideways glance. Romida – 27, a woman, and a refugee – couldn’t help but smirk: for once in her life, she was in charge.

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Romida Begum sat on a chair in her tent home. Nearby, her older male assistant eyed her with a sideways glance. Romida – 27, a woman, and a refugee – couldn’t help but smirk: for once in her life, she was in charge.

World News

Men are more confident to enter politics and more likely to have been encouraged to run, poll shows

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Men are more confident to enter politics and more likely to have been encouraged to run, poll shows

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Men have greater confidence in their ability to serve as politicians and are more likely to have been personally encouraged to enter politics, a new poll shows, underscoring factors why women are under-represented at all levels of elected office in Canada.

One obstacle highlighted by the poll for the Environics Institute is the degree to which men and women see themselves as qualified to run for election and the amount of encouragement they get to throw their hat into the political ring.

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Men have greater confidence in their ability to serve as politicians and are more likely to have been personally encouraged to enter politics, a new poll shows, underscoring factors why women are under-represented at all levels of elected office in Canada.

One obstacle highlighted by the poll for the Environics Institute is the degree to which men and women see themselves as qualified to run for election and the amount of encouragement they get to throw their hat into the political ring.

World News

For women in politics, being terrorized comes with the job

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For women in politics, being terrorized comes with the job

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When Erin Schrode, then 24, decided to run for Congress in her California district in 2016, she expected to face grueling hours and numerous other challenges, but she never anticipated fending off thousands of abusive online messages.

“One of the first pieces I read was, ‘We're going to laugh with glee while we gang rape you and bash your bagel-eating brains in,’” says Schrode, who is Jewish, recalling the messages she received.

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When Erin Schrode, then 24, decided to run for Congress in her California district in 2016, she expected to face grueling hours and numerous other challenges, but she never anticipated fending off thousands of abusive online messages.

“One of the first pieces I read was, ‘We're going to laugh with glee while we gang rape you and bash your bagel-eating brains in,’” says Schrode, who is Jewish, recalling the messages she received.

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