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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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Covid's male face: Women are hidden in the pandemic debate

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November 4, 2020

Covid's male face: Women are hidden in the pandemic debate

The coronavirus pandemic is a crisis on many fronts – political, economic, and scientific – with ramifications that touch every member of society.

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The coronavirus pandemic is a crisis on many fronts – political, economic, and scientific – with ramifications that touch every member of society.

A historic gender gap: why men and women are voting differently

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November 4, 2020

A historic gender gap: why men and women are voting differently

Genevieve Woodard Hartley and her husband used to vote for the same presidential candidate. Not this year. While both describe themselves as Republicans, the couple, who live in Houston, Texas, is “splitting” its ticket.

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Genevieve Woodard Hartley and her husband used to vote for the same presidential candidate. Not this year. While both describe themselves as Republicans, the couple, who live in Houston, Texas, is “splitting” its ticket.

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EU deepens efforts to engage Libyan women in politics

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EU deepens efforts to engage Libyan women in politics

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In a statement on Friday, the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Libya and the Ambassadors of EU Member States accredited to Libya reiterated their aid for the country's "full and meaningful inclusion and participation of women in the peace process."

 

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In a statement on Friday, the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Libya and the Ambassadors of EU Member States accredited to Libya reiterated their aid for the country's "full and meaningful inclusion and participation of women in the peace process."

 

Equality in law for women and girls by 2030

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November 2, 2020

Equality in law for women and girls by 2030

More than 2.5 billion women and girls around the world are affected in multiple ways by discriminatory laws and the lack of legal protections.

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More than 2.5 billion women and girls around the world are affected in multiple ways by discriminatory laws and the lack of legal protections.

World News

Jacinda Ardern appoints most diverse cabinet in New Zealand history

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Jacinda Ardern appoints most diverse cabinet in New Zealand history

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Prime minister appoints Maori as first woman foreign minister and offers Greens two posts.

Jacinda Ardern has appointed the most diverse cabinet in New Zealand’s history, with indigenous Maori ministers making up a quarter of its 20-strong members, women taking eight posts and the nomination of a gay deputy prime minister.

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Nanaia Mahuta, the new foreign minister, is one of eight women in the cabinet © Getty Images

Prime minister appoints Maori as first woman foreign minister and offers Greens two posts.

Jacinda Ardern has appointed the most diverse cabinet in New Zealand’s history, with indigenous Maori ministers making up a quarter of its 20-strong members, women taking eight posts and the nomination of a gay deputy prime minister.

Engendering hate: The contours of state-aligned gendered disinformation online

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November 1, 2020

Engendering hate: The contours of state-aligned gendered disinformation online

Our report, with U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), outlines a new framework for understanding how disinformation is being used online to exclude women from public life, in the first major study into this threat to democracy.

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Our report, with U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI), outlines a new framework for understanding how disinformation is being used online to exclude women from public life, in the first major study into this threat to democracy.

World News

Electing more women is focus of youth social campaign in Georgia

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Electing more women is focus of youth social campaign in Georgia

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UNDP and Sweden support awareness-raising among first-time voters.

The upcoming parliamentary elections offer Georgia a chance to vote more women into office, overcoming a long-standing gender disparity in political representation. In support of greater openness to women in politics, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Sweden are assisting civil society activists in Georgia’s regions to educate first-time voters about democratic elections and gender equality.

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UNDP and Sweden support awareness-raising among first-time voters.

The upcoming parliamentary elections offer Georgia a chance to vote more women into office, overcoming a long-standing gender disparity in political representation. In support of greater openness to women in politics, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Sweden are assisting civil society activists in Georgia’s regions to educate first-time voters about democratic elections and gender equality.

Bihar elections: Do women’s votes count?

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October 28, 2020

Bihar elections: Do women’s votes count?

Given the rigid social structure, it is likely that women have little political agency in this State.

In a State where 53 per cent of women think that it is justifiable for a man to beat his wife, how much political agency does a woman have in Bihar?

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Given the rigid social structure, it is likely that women have little political agency in this State.

In a State where 53 per cent of women think that it is justifiable for a man to beat his wife, how much political agency does a woman have in Bihar?

World News

Somali women demand guarantee of 30% of parliament in 2021 election

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Somali women demand guarantee of 30% of parliament in 2021 election

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Women's rights groups, prominent businesswomen and female politicians in Somalia are urging the country's male-dominated parliament to pass a bill reserving 30 per cent of seats for women in next year's general election.

Women hold 24 per cent of the 329 seats in Somalia's lower and upper houses of parliament, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), up from 14 per cent in the previous election.

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Women's rights groups, prominent businesswomen and female politicians in Somalia are urging the country's male-dominated parliament to pass a bill reserving 30 per cent of seats for women in next year's general election.

Women hold 24 per cent of the 329 seats in Somalia's lower and upper houses of parliament, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), up from 14 per cent in the previous election.

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