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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.

Overview of Strategies Applied in Bulgaria To Increase Women’s Participation And Representation

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June 4, 2007

Overview of Strategies Applied in Bulgaria To Increase Women’s Participation And Representation

This report gives an overview of the strategies applied in Bulgaria to increase women’s political participation and representation.

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This report gives an overview of the strategies applied in Bulgaria to increase women’s political participation and representation.

Women Making A Difference Fact Sheet

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June 4, 2007

Women Making A Difference Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides evidence to support that when there is a critical mass (at least 30%) of women in policy-making bodies, women’s issues are not only prioritized in the policy-agenda, but they are also more likely to be acted upon by policy-makers.

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This fact sheet provides evidence to support that when there is a critical mass (at least 30%) of women in policy-making bodies, women’s issues are not only prioritized in the policy-agenda, but they are also more likely to be acted upon by policy-makers.

Gender Differences In Mobilization For Collective Action: Case Studies Of Villages In Northern Nigeria

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May 29, 2007

Gender Differences In Mobilization For Collective Action: Case Studies Of Villages In Northern Nigeria

This research paper focuses on gender and social capital in northern Nigeria and attempts to fill some of the knowledge gaps withing existing gender relations. It discusses the impact of gender roles on collective action and access to resources.

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This research paper focuses on gender and social capital in northern Nigeria and attempts to fill some of the knowledge gaps withing existing gender relations. It discusses the impact of gender roles on collective action and access to resources.

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.

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