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Advocacy and Lobbying

Advocacy and lobbying 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 lobbying 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. Lobbyists attempt to sway policy makers and legislators to address specific issues, often by introducing or revising legislation and policy. Lobbying activities may include private meetings with decision makers, public campaigns and demonstrations.

Gender Guide to World Bank and IMF Policy-Based Lending

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May 8, 2007

Gender Guide to World Bank and IMF Policy-Based Lending

This guide highlights four reforms often tied to World Bank and IMF policy-based loans that intensify gender inequality and undermine the ability of women and girls to break out of poverty. It also provides a number of resources, relevant topics and ideas for further action.

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This guide highlights four reforms often tied to World Bank and IMF policy-based loans that intensify gender inequality and undermine the ability of women and girls to break out of poverty. It also provides a number of resources, relevant topics and ideas for further action.

Positive Action in the Field of Equality Between Women and Men

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April 27, 2007

Positive Action in the Field of Equality Between Women and Men

This report aims to give as comprehensive a picture as possible of positive action, to explain how it interrelates with the principle of non-discrimination and how it interacts with other tools, such as gender mainstreaming.

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This report aims to give as comprehensive a picture as possible of positive action, to explain how it interrelates with the principle of non-discrimination and how it interacts with other tools, such as gender mainstreaming.

Gender Equality and The Millennium Development Goals

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April 19, 2007

Gender Equality and The Millennium Development Goals

This report has three main objectives: to show the strong linkages between gender equality and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); to show that working for gender equality offers a compelling, win-win approach for policy makers and planners towards attaining and implementing the MDGs; and to

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This report has three main objectives: to show the strong linkages between gender equality and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); to show that working for gender equality offers a compelling, win-win approach for policy makers and planners towards attaining and implementing the MDGs; and to

Land and Use Rights and Gender Equality in Vietnam

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April 19, 2007

Land and Use Rights and Gender Equality in Vietnam

This report describes a pilot project in north central Vietnam, which has instituted an approach to land titling that gives both women and men rights to use land.

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This report describes a pilot project in north central Vietnam, which has instituted an approach to land titling that gives both women and men rights to use land.

Participatory Approaches to Increasing Women’s Voice in CDD Projects: Example from Indonesia

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April 19, 2007

Participatory Approaches to Increasing Women’s Voice in CDD Projects: Example from Indonesia

This report highlights key features of the approaches used in Indonesia to ensure women’s voice in community-driven development (CDD) projects. It focuses particularly on the Kecamatan Development Projects (KDP) and the Water and Sanitation for Low Income Communities Projects (WSLIC).

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This report highlights key features of the approaches used in Indonesia to ensure women’s voice in community-driven development (CDD) projects. It focuses particularly on the Kecamatan Development Projects (KDP) and the Water and Sanitation for Low Income Communities Projects (WSLIC).

Women in the Americas: Paths to Political Power

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April 5, 2007

Women in the Americas: Paths to Political Power

As part of the Round-table launched by the Inter-American Development Bank, several women political leaders in Latin-America and the Caribbean gathered together to discuss several aspects of change underway in the region in regards to equity, political participation and leadership.

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As part of the Round-table launched by the Inter-American Development Bank, several women political leaders in Latin-America and the Caribbean gathered together to discuss several aspects of change underway in the region in regards to equity, political participation and leadership.

Woman and Society Research, Policy and Advocacy Centre

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April 5, 2007

Woman and Society Research, Policy and Advocacy Centre

The Women and Society Research, Policy and Advocacy Centre is an independent, feminist, non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote women's rights at the national, regional and global level, and advocates for gender-sensitive democratization of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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The Women and Society Research, Policy and Advocacy Centre is an independent, feminist, non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote women's rights at the national, regional and global level, and advocates for gender-sensitive democratization of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Rights & Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development)

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April 5, 2007

Rights & Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development)

Rights & Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development) is a non-partisan organization that works with individuals, organizations and governments worldwide to promote the human and democratic rights defined in the United Nations' International Bill of Human Right

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Rights & Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development) is a non-partisan organization that works with individuals, organizations and governments worldwide to promote the human and democratic rights defined in the United Nations' International Bill of Human Right

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