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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.

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Women of Latin America build bridges, changing status quo in politics

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Women of Latin America build bridges, changing status quo in politics

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In Honduras and El Salvador, a spotlight on efforts towards addressing electoral challenges through trainings for candidates. 

We women represent the majority of the population. To contemplate a situation in which the majority of the population is excluded from decision-making spaces, is a reality that has little in common with the implementation of a democratic model,” says Silvia Ayala, National Secretary for Women of the Libertad y Refundación (Freedom and Refoundation) Party of Honduras.

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In Honduras and El Salvador, a spotlight on efforts towards addressing electoral challenges through trainings for candidates. 

We women represent the majority of the population. To contemplate a situation in which the majority of the population is excluded from decision-making spaces, is a reality that has little in common with the implementation of a democratic model,” says Silvia Ayala, National Secretary for Women of the Libertad y Refundación (Freedom and Refoundation) Party of Honduras.

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Poised to Run: Women’s Pathways to the State Legislatures

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February 12, 2014

Poised to Run: Women’s Pathways to the State Legislatures

Women legislators are more likely to say that they decided to seek elective office after receiving the suggestion to run, whereas men are more likely to say that the decision to run was entirely their idea.

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Women legislators are more likely to say that they decided to seek elective office after receiving the suggestion to run, whereas men are more likely to say that the decision to run was entirely their idea.

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Solomon MP calls for reserved seats for women in national parliament

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Solomon MP calls for reserved seats for women in national parliament

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Solomon Islands Member of Parliament Hon. Milner Tozaka says he supports reserved seats for women in the national parliament and calls on the government to legislate the proposal before parliament dissolves in September 2014.

Mr Tozaka made these remarks at a recent three-day regional consultation on human rights for members of parliament in Auckland, New Zealand on 15–17 January 2014 organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Regional Rights Resource Team (SPC RRRT).

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Solomon Islands Member of Parliament Hon. Milner Tozaka says he supports reserved seats for women in the national parliament and calls on the government to legislate the proposal before parliament dissolves in September 2014.

Mr Tozaka made these remarks at a recent three-day regional consultation on human rights for members of parliament in Auckland, New Zealand on 15–17 January 2014 organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Regional Rights Resource Team (SPC RRRT).

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In Nepal, Women Fight to Maintain Seats in the Constituent Assembly

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In Nepal, Women Fight to Maintain Seats in the Constituent Assembly

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Nepali women had much to be proud of as 172 of them were seated in the country’s newest Constituent Assembly on Jan. 22. They filled almost 30 percent of the 575 seats that were contested during parliamentary elections last fall, despite the decision by a group of party elders to reduce the assembly’s women’s quota by 66 seats to 22 percent.

In addition to traditional lawmaking, this Constituent Assembly is also tasked with drafting Nepal’s new constitution, making the presence of the women especially important.

 

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Nepali women had much to be proud of as 172 of them were seated in the country’s newest Constituent Assembly on Jan. 22. They filled almost 30 percent of the 575 seats that were contested during parliamentary elections last fall, despite the decision by a group of party elders to reduce the assembly’s women’s quota by 66 seats to 22 percent.

In addition to traditional lawmaking, this Constituent Assembly is also tasked with drafting Nepal’s new constitution, making the presence of the women especially important.

 

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Familiar Faces and Warlords Set To Dominate Afghan Election Campaign

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Familiar Faces and Warlords Set To Dominate Afghan Election Campaign

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Twenty-seven presidential hopefuls have registered as candidates for Afghanistan's crucial April 5 vote, setting the stage for a wide-open race among former warlords, powerful officials, and several prominent Western-educated technocrats...

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Twenty-seven presidential hopefuls have registered as candidates for Afghanistan's crucial April 5 vote, setting the stage for a wide-open race among former warlords, powerful officials, and several prominent Western-educated technocrats...

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Pacific women gather in Fiji to boost representation in politics

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Pacific women gather in Fiji to boost representation in politics

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A group of Pacific women politicians and leaders have met in Fiji to find ways to boost the number of Pacific women in elected positions.

The Pacific has the lowest number of women in government in the world at just 4-point-7 percent.

Twenty women from seven Pacific Islands states came together for a workshop in Fiji last week, which was organised by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development and the Fiji Women's Rights Movement

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A group of Pacific women politicians and leaders have met in Fiji to find ways to boost the number of Pacific women in elected positions.

The Pacific has the lowest number of women in government in the world at just 4-point-7 percent.

Twenty women from seven Pacific Islands states came together for a workshop in Fiji last week, which was organised by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development and the Fiji Women's Rights Movement

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Politics 101: How to Get Involved as a Young Woman

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Politics 101: How to Get Involved as a Young Woman

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If someone would have told me five years ago that I’d be co-directing a website with a state representative, connecting with progressive women leaders from around the country, and going to conferences to speak on young women in politics in 2014, I would have started laughing hysterically. But this is my life today.

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If someone would have told me five years ago that I’d be co-directing a website with a state representative, connecting with progressive women leaders from around the country, and going to conferences to speak on young women in politics in 2014, I would have started laughing hysterically. But this is my life today.

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Lack Of Women At Davos Reflects The Gender Gap In Global Leadership

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Lack Of Women At Davos Reflects The Gender Gap In Global Leadership

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As world leaders met on a global stage for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this past week, it wasn’t hard to notice that something was missing. Women make up half of our planet’s population, yet this year only 15% of the attendees at one of the world’s most important gatherings of decision makers and influencers were female.

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As world leaders met on a global stage for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this past week, it wasn’t hard to notice that something was missing. Women make up half of our planet’s population, yet this year only 15% of the attendees at one of the world’s most important gatherings of decision makers and influencers were female.

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Rosemary Butler launches training for women seeking public office, Wales

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Rosemary Butler launches training for women seeking public office, Wales

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An initiative to encourage more women to apply for key roles in Welsh public life has been launched at the Senedd.

It will offer mentoring, shadowing and training as part of Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler's women in public life development scheme.

Only around 5% of council leaders and chief executives of companies in Wales are female.

We invite you to read the full article published January 30, 2014

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An initiative to encourage more women to apply for key roles in Welsh public life has been launched at the Senedd.

It will offer mentoring, shadowing and training as part of Presiding Officer Dame Rosemary Butler's women in public life development scheme.

Only around 5% of council leaders and chief executives of companies in Wales are female.

We invite you to read the full article published January 30, 2014

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