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.
This report discusses the growing feminization of the AIDS epidemic.
This report discusses the growing feminization of the AIDS epidemic.
This report analyzes the formulation of policy regarding human development in Estonia. It examines the extent to which good governance principles, with the basic elements of decentralization, transparency, lawfulness and participation, are followed in Estonia.
This report analyzes the formulation of policy regarding human development in Estonia. It examines the extent to which good governance principles, with the basic elements of decentralization, transparency, lawfulness and participation, are followed in Estonia.
This fact sheet emphasizes the importance of engendering efforts to achieve the Millienium Development Goals (MDGs) and suggests several ways to make the MDG implementation and reporting process more gender-sensitive.
This fact sheet emphasizes the importance of engendering efforts to achieve the Millienium Development Goals (MDGs) and suggests several ways to make the MDG implementation and reporting process more gender-sensitive.
This paper argues that effective poverty eradication measures and pro-poor governance indicators must take into account women's perspectives and needs.
This paper argues that effective poverty eradication measures and pro-poor governance indicators must take into account women's perspectives and needs.
This paper explores the gendered dimensions of poverty, of poverty-producing processes, and of the methods for formulating gender-sensitive poverty eradication measures within the context of development.
This paper explores the gendered dimensions of poverty, of poverty-producing processes, and of the methods for formulating gender-sensitive poverty eradication measures within the context of development.
This report documents the efforts by UNDP to support the empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and related organizations in the Asia Pacific region from 2001 to 2004. It examines the achievements made and the lessons learned in the process.
This report documents the efforts by UNDP to support the empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and related organizations in the Asia Pacific region from 2001 to 2004. It examines the achievements made and the lessons learned in the process.
This report evaluates the outcomes of the UNDP Semipalatinsk Programme, which aimed at alleviating poverty and raising living standards among women, small-scale entrepreneurs and rural people in the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan.
This report evaluates the outcomes of the UNDP Semipalatinsk Programme, which aimed at alleviating poverty and raising living standards among women, small-scale entrepreneurs and rural people in the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan.
The essays in this volume explore the multiple factors that influence the process of engendering governance in complex societies. They focus particularly on the changing roles of various actors such as women’s movements, the state and civil society.
The essays in this volume explore the multiple factors that influence the process of engendering governance in complex societies. They focus particularly on the changing roles of various actors such as women’s movements, the state and civil society.
This paper addresses the characteristics of electoral processes in post-conflict countries.
This paper addresses the characteristics of electoral processes in post-conflict countries.