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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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Nigeria: 2015 - Abiola's Daughter Advocates Better Deal for Women

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Nigeria: 2015 - Abiola's Daughter Advocates Better Deal for Women

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As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2015 elections, leading political parties have been urged to encourage more women to run for elective positions by removing barriers impeding their effective participation in politics.

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As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2015 elections, leading political parties have been urged to encourage more women to run for elective positions by removing barriers impeding their effective participation in politics.

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Bachmann Showed Female Politicians the Wrong Way to Seem Tough, USA

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Bachmann Showed Female Politicians the Wrong Way to Seem Tough, USA

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For a while there in 2011, or at least for a few minutes that August, Michele Bachmann was a real contender for the Republican presidential nomination. The race she ran offers several lessons for women who may be thinking of making a White House bid.

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For a while there in 2011, or at least for a few minutes that August, Michele Bachmann was a real contender for the Republican presidential nomination. The race she ran offers several lessons for women who may be thinking of making a White House bid.

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Paris mayoral race to produce a female leader

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Paris mayoral race to produce a female leader

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One thing is certain in the race to lead France's cultural and political center: A woman will be mayor of Paris for the first time in the city's 2,000-year history. The outcome of the conservative primary that begins May 31 is all but decided - Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, or NKM as she is often known, is widely considered the only candidate with a realistic chance. Her Socialist opponent in the March 2014 election will be Anne Hidalgo, the current mayor's designated heir.

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One thing is certain in the race to lead France's cultural and political center: A woman will be mayor of Paris for the first time in the city's 2,000-year history. The outcome of the conservative primary that begins May 31 is all but decided - Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, or NKM as she is often known, is widely considered the only candidate with a realistic chance. Her Socialist opponent in the March 2014 election will be Anne Hidalgo, the current mayor's designated heir.

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Building Women’s Political Participation in Haiti

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Building Women’s Political Participation in Haiti

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Thriving and revitalized, the city of Port-au-Prince hosted its first ever BRIDGE courses for members of the Haitian electoral management body.52 participants experienced BRIDGE for the first time during the two 5-day trainings, held back-to-back from April 15 – 26, 2013. The participants were drawn primarily from different departments of the CTCEP (Transient College of Permanent Electoral Council).

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Thriving and revitalized, the city of Port-au-Prince hosted its first ever BRIDGE courses for members of the Haitian electoral management body.52 participants experienced BRIDGE for the first time during the two 5-day trainings, held back-to-back from April 15 – 26, 2013. The participants were drawn primarily from different departments of the CTCEP (Transient College of Permanent Electoral Council).

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Top Women Lobbyists Make $600,000 Less Than Their Male Counterparts: Report, USA

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Top Women Lobbyists Make $600,000 Less Than Their Male Counterparts: Report, USA

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WASHINGTON -- Gender inequality is alive and well on K Street, Washington's notorious lobbying boulevard, according to a new report on CEO salaries issued Thursday by Bloomberg. The r

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WASHINGTON -- Gender inequality is alive and well on K Street, Washington's notorious lobbying boulevard, according to a new report on CEO salaries issued Thursday by Bloomberg. The r

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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: How Women Can Make Their Voices Heard in Politics, USA

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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: How Women Can Make Their Voices Heard in Politics, USA

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"How would you in your current position help foster more female participation and occupation in public service?"

Senator Gillibrand:

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"How would you in your current position help foster more female participation and occupation in public service?"

Senator Gillibrand:

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In Pakistan, women work to strengthen democracy

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In Pakistan, women work to strengthen democracy

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Zameer Akhtar, 28, is participating in the electoral process for the very first time. Being a woman and living in a joint family in Pakistan, getting consent from her elders for her decision wasn’t simple at first. But she felt compelled to take part in election training due to lack of public confidence in previous elections.

We invite our users to read the complete article here

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Zameer Akhtar, 28, is participating in the electoral process for the very first time. Being a woman and living in a joint family in Pakistan, getting consent from her elders for her decision wasn’t simple at first. But she felt compelled to take part in election training due to lack of public confidence in previous elections.

We invite our users to read the complete article here

Electoral Financing to Advance Women’s Political Participation: A Guide for UNDP Support

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May 9, 2013

Electoral Financing to Advance Women’s Political Participation: A Guide for UNDP Support

This primer offers an introduction to the intersection of gender and electoral financing.

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This primer offers an introduction to the intersection of gender and electoral financing.

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No Justice? No Peace! The Women Absent from Colombia's Peace Talks

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No Justice? No Peace! The Women Absent from Colombia's Peace Talks

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“No Justice? No Peace!” Never has this chant, which I have heard so often at anti-war rallies, felt so real to me as during the last few months observing the ongoing peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas. The talks began in October of last year in Oslo, Norway and have continued in Havana ever since. “No Justice?

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Women in Colombia

“No Justice? No Peace!” Never has this chant, which I have heard so often at anti-war rallies, felt so real to me as during the last few months observing the ongoing peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrillas. The talks began in October of last year in Oslo, Norway and have continued in Havana ever since. “No Justice?

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