Skip to main content

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.

Conflict Trends, on Women, Peace and Security (Issue 3/2003)

Back
March 20, 2007

Conflict Trends, on Women, Peace and Security (Issue 3/2003)

This issue of "Conflict Trends, on Women, Peace and Security" contains several articles that seek to stimulate debate regarding the positive contributions that women make on peace and security issues in Africa.

Print article

This issue of "Conflict Trends, on Women, Peace and Security" contains several articles that seek to stimulate debate regarding the positive contributions that women make on peace and security issues in Africa.

Report of the Fifth South Asia Regional Ministerial Conference Celebrating Beijing Plus Ten

Back
March 20, 2007

Report of the Fifth South Asia Regional Ministerial Conference Celebrating Beijing Plus Ten

This report is an account of the Fifth South Asia Regional Ministerial Meeting, "Celebrating Beijing Plus Ten.” It provides an overview of the presentations, discussions and recommendations given at the meeting; contains the consensus document "Islamabad Declaration: Review and Future Action," a

Print article

This report is an account of the Fifth South Asia Regional Ministerial Meeting, "Celebrating Beijing Plus Ten.” It provides an overview of the presentations, discussions and recommendations given at the meeting; contains the consensus document "Islamabad Declaration: Review and Future Action," a

Women and HIV/AIDS: Confronting the Crisis

Back
March 19, 2007

Women and HIV/AIDS: Confronting the Crisis

This report concludes that women are bearing the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and that strategies to reverse its effects cannot succeed unless women and girls are empowered to reclaim their rights.

Print article

This report concludes that women are bearing the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and that strategies to reverse its effects cannot succeed unless women and girls are empowered to reclaim their rights.

Gender Equality and Extension of Women's Rights in Russia in the Context of the UN Millennium Development Goals

Back
March 19, 2007

Gender Equality and Extension of Women's Rights in Russia in the Context of the UN Millennium Development Goals

This report analyzes the current situation in Russia with regard to different forms of gender inequality. It identifies key policy areas towards achievement of the third Millennium Development Goal, with respect to the specific Russian context.

Print article

This report analyzes the current situation in Russia with regard to different forms of gender inequality. It identifies key policy areas towards achievement of the third Millennium Development Goal, with respect to the specific Russian context.

Image Building in Croatia: Working with the Media

Back
March 15, 2007

Image Building in Croatia: Working with the Media

This manual provides political party members with guidelines for building an effective media campaign. It discusses the importance of media campaigns as vehicles to communicate with citizens and to involve citizens in the work of the political party.

Print article

This manual provides political party members with guidelines for building an effective media campaign. It discusses the importance of media campaigns as vehicles to communicate with citizens and to involve citizens in the work of the political party.

BRIDGE Cutting Edge Packs Gender and Migration

Back
March 12, 2007

BRIDGE Cutting Edge Packs Gender and Migration

How does migration advance or impede gender equality? How can policy-makers and practitioners promote gender equality in work on migration? Migration can bring new opportunities for greater gender equality and a better life, for those migrating and those they leave behind.

Print article

How does migration advance or impede gender equality? How can policy-makers and practitioners promote gender equality in work on migration? Migration can bring new opportunities for greater gender equality and a better life, for those migrating and those they leave behind.

Gender and Sexuality

Back
March 12, 2007

Gender and Sexuality

Gender and sexuality are important in political struggles and development. This report explores the framework of sexual rights and the work of the United Nations in areas of gender and sexual rights, as well as describes efforts to focus activism and programming on defending sexual rights.

Print article

Gender and sexuality are important in political struggles and development. This report explores the framework of sexual rights and the work of the United Nations in areas of gender and sexual rights, as well as describes efforts to focus activism and programming on defending sexual rights.

Gender and HIV/AIDS

Back
March 12, 2007

Gender and HIV/AIDS

This report outlines the importance of locating HIV/AIDS within a gendered human rights framework. It analyzes how HIV/AIDS exacerbates gender inequality, and how gender inequality shapes the economic, political, and social factors driving the HIV epidemic.

Print article

This report outlines the importance of locating HIV/AIDS within a gendered human rights framework. It analyzes how HIV/AIDS exacerbates gender inequality, and how gender inequality shapes the economic, political, and social factors driving the HIV epidemic.

Young Women Leaders: A Real Trend or Utopia?

Back
March 12, 2007

Young Women Leaders: A Real Trend or Utopia?

This essay discusses the importance of young women leaders to influence Malaysian politics and issues a challenge to young women leaders to strengthen the forces of democracy.

Print article

This essay discusses the importance of young women leaders to influence Malaysian politics and issues a challenge to young women leaders to strengthen the forces of democracy.

Subscribe to Advocacy and Lobbying