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Advocacy and Development

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.

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Fundraising Tactics for Women

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January 16, 2008

Fundraising Tactics for Women

This training manual describes fundraising tactics on how to create solicitation teams, where to find donors, and how to solicit funds.

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This training manual describes fundraising tactics on how to create solicitation teams, where to find donors, and how to solicit funds.

Building a New Iraq: Ensuring Women’s Rights

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November 23, 2007

Building a New Iraq: Ensuring Women’s Rights

This report discusses women’s political participation in Iraq, including their role in building sustainable peace in the country and drafting the new constitution. It also include biographies of some Iraqi women leaders and list of publications related to the new role of women in Iraq.

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This report discusses women’s political participation in Iraq, including their role in building sustainable peace in the country and drafting the new constitution. It also include biographies of some Iraqi women leaders and list of publications related to the new role of women in Iraq.

Why Women Count: Broadcasting for Change Network 2007

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November 2, 2007

Why Women Count: Broadcasting for Change Network 2007

Why Women Count is a series of forty-one 5 minute programmes made by broadcasters and producers in 41 countries focusing on the theme of empowerment.

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Why Women Count is a series of forty-one 5 minute programmes made by broadcasters and producers in 41 countries focusing on the theme of empowerment.

National Machineries for Women in Development: experiences, lessons and strategies

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November 1, 2007

National Machineries for Women in Development: experiences, lessons and strategies

This report   includes salient point s  and recommendations from the BRIDGE 1996 report on National Machineries for Women (NWMs), updated with more recent thinking, policy and practice. Also included  are summaries of some best practice examples.

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This report   includes salient point s  and recommendations from the BRIDGE 1996 report on National Machineries for Women (NWMs), updated with more recent thinking, policy and practice. Also included  are summaries of some best practice examples.

Women and Leadership: The Missed Millennium Development Goal

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October 27, 2007

Women and Leadership: The Missed Millennium Development Goal

Unlike the other MDGs that are to be achieved by 2015, the third MDG on gender equality and women’s empowerment was to be achieved by the year 2005 but it was not. In that sense, it is a missed goal.

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Unlike the other MDGs that are to be achieved by 2015, the third MDG on gender equality and women’s empowerment was to be achieved by the year 2005 but it was not. In that sense, it is a missed goal.

Fundraising for Change: A Practical Guide for Women’s Rights Organizations

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October 17, 2007

Fundraising for Change: A Practical Guide for Women’s Rights Organizations

This handbook describes the process of preparation and strategies for fundraising available to women’s organizations.

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This handbook describes the process of preparation and strategies for fundraising available to women’s organizations.

Violence Against Women and Girls: A Global Issue

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October 11, 2007

Violence Against Women and Girls: A Global Issue

This factsheet describes the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) and its importance in supporting worldwide efforts to stop violence against women in all spheres of life.

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This factsheet describes the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) and its importance in supporting worldwide efforts to stop violence against women in all spheres of life.

The Women’s Movement in Egypt, with Selected References to Turkey

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September 13, 2007

The Women’s Movement in Egypt, with Selected References to Turkey

This report discusses the historical backgrounds and contemporary contexts of women’s movements in Egypt and Turkey. It describes the potential of women’s movements to become a force for democratization in the contemporary Middle East and a champion of women’s rights.

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This report discusses the historical backgrounds and contemporary contexts of women’s movements in Egypt and Turkey. It describes the potential of women’s movements to become a force for democratization in the contemporary Middle East and a champion of women’s rights.

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