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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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Working paper: Maternal mortality and women’s political participation

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July 18, 2018

Working paper: Maternal mortality and women’s political participation

Maternal mortality, defined as the death of women within 42 days of childbirth, remains a looming global health problem well into the 21st century.

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Maternal mortality, defined as the death of women within 42 days of childbirth, remains a looming global health problem well into the 21st century.

July 18, 2018
United Nations agencies and civil society organizations call for the repeal of gender-discriminatory nationality laws

On the margins of the UN High-Level Political Forum, UN Women, UNICEF, UNHCR and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights joined the Permanent Mission of Tunisia and the Office of the Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States to the Un

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July 16, 2018
Forget suits. Show the tattoo. Female candidates are breaking the rules

After years of being told to put on a suit and recite their résumé, women running for office are now revealing themselves in more complex ways.

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Women won big in Mexico’s elections — taking nearly half the legislature’s seats. Here’s why.

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July 11, 2018

Women won big in Mexico’s elections — taking nearly half the legislature’s seats. Here’s why.

By Magda Hinojosa and Jennifer M. Piscopo,

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By Magda Hinojosa and Jennifer M. Piscopo,

July 6, 2018
NGOs in Malawi call for attitude change towards female politicians

Youth and Society Organization (YAS) and Pan-African Civic Educators Network (PACENET) have reiterated the need for people in the country to change their perceptions and cultural beliefs that regard female politicians as underachievers.

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July 6, 2018
Nigeria: Politics Ex-minister speaks on women in politics

A former minister of aviation and the founder/chairperson of Women Leadership Institute (WLI), Dr. Kema Chikwe, has underscored the need to remove institutional, economic, cultural and political impediments to women participation in politics.

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July 6, 2018
Nigerian Body designs curriculum to prepare women for leadership

A group, under the auspices of the Women Leadership Institute (WLI), has designed a curriculum to help neutralise African society’s perception about women’s participation in leadership. 

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July 6, 2018
Stakeholders lament declining Nigerian women participation in governance

Barely eight months to the 2019 general election, stakeholders have expressed dismay at the declining rate of women participation in public service.

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