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.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls everywhere.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women and girls everywhere.
By Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu
By Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu
These are trying times, no doubt. We have heard multiple well-informed people talk about plans to become self-reliant homesteaders because of “how things are going” in our country.
These are trying times, no doubt. We have heard multiple well-informed people talk about plans to become self-reliant homesteaders because of “how things are going” in our country.
RepresentWomen's inaugural Solutions Summit brings together experts and leaders in election administration, voting rights, and democracy reform who are working on innov
International IDEA, together with our funding partners and civil society organizations (CSOs), have been convening an annual National Forum on Women in Politics (NFWP) in Fiji since 2018.
The sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 14 to 25 March 2022. Due to the
The United Nations observance of International Women’s Day will be held virtually on 8 March, 10–11.30am UTC–5.
This report assesses women’s access to justice and women’s political participation in parliament, local councils and civil society organisations in Colombia.
This report assesses women’s access to justice and women’s political participation in parliament, local councils and civil society organisations in Colombia.