Advocacy and development are activities that represent and promote the needs of specific groups in political and social arenas. One such group is women, who can collectively pressure their leaders for legislative reforms to protect and promote women’s rights and concerns. It is the goal of advocacy groups and lobbyists to ensure that both the public and politicians understand and support their cause, so that it gains strength and credibility. Securing rights and gains for women requires coalition-building, funding, civic education, awareness-raising and individuals willing to lead the way.
While the goals of advocacy and development are similar, the processes are distinctly different. Advocacy involves gaining and exercising power to influence a political action. Employing methods such as demonstrations, public campaigns and civic education, advocacy can be the primary mission of international agencies and civil society organizations seeking to influence global and national decision makers. Women worldwide frequently organize themselves for advocacy purposes, drawing on their collective power to affect legislation, official policies and governmental programs. Lobbying, however, refers to influencing the government and its leaders. Development attempt to sway policy makers and legislators to address specific issues, often by introducing or revising legislation and policy. Development activities may include private meetings with decision makers, public campaigns and demonstrations.
The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), proclaimed 2010 the “Inter-American Year of Women,” in recognition of the progress made and the challenges that remain to full equality between men and women.
This Code of Conduct assumes that governments, parties, organizations and individuals are each committed to multi-party pluralism and the democratic process.
ODIHR, in co-operation with the OSCE Chairperson in Office will be hosting the annual Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Promoting Gender Balance and Women's Participation in Political and Pu
A four-day workshop will host 30 female participants from all over the Arab World.
Future Governance in Somali - The constitution, Election and participation of Women in forging peace and government.
Dorothy Height, a leader of the African-American and women’s rights movements who was considered both the grande dame of the civil rights era and its unsung heroine, died on Tuesday in Washington. She was 98.
IKNOW Politics partners launched the site in Arabic in Amman, Jordan, opening it to millions of new users in a region where women are under-represented politically.
In order to provide a detailed look at the conditions faced by women in the Middle East and understand the complex environment surrounding efforts to improve their status, Freedom House conducted a comprehensive study of women’s rights in the region.