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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.

World News

Islamic Extremists Alarm Secular Women in Tunisia

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Islamic Extremists Alarm Secular Women in Tunisia

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Tensions are rising between secular Tunisian women and political Islam. "There is no room for the opposition and women to participate in building the country we want," says one critic.

Nineteen-year-old Tunisian feminist Amina Tyler wrote these words in Arabic across her breasts and stomach to defy growing Islamism in her country, and then posted topless pictures of herself on the Facebook page of the organization Femen Tunisia.

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Tensions are rising between secular Tunisian women and political Islam. "There is no room for the opposition and women to participate in building the country we want," says one critic.

Nineteen-year-old Tunisian feminist Amina Tyler wrote these words in Arabic across her breasts and stomach to defy growing Islamism in her country, and then posted topless pictures of herself on the Facebook page of the organization Femen Tunisia.

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EGYPT: Women in Post- Revolutionary Egypt Must be Free from Fear of Sexual Violence – UN Envoy

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EGYPT: Women in Post- Revolutionary Egypt Must be Free from Fear of Sexual Violence – UN Envoy

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A United Nations envoy today expressed dismay at the sexual attacks on women protesters in Egypt, as well as the messages from prominent religious and political leaders that women are to blame.

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A United Nations envoy today expressed dismay at the sexual attacks on women protesters in Egypt, as well as the messages from prominent religious and political leaders that women are to blame.

World News

Shura reverses placement of women at top of party lists, Egypt

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Shura reverses placement of women at top of party lists, Egypt

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Shura Council members voted down legislation requiring political parties to display female candidates at the top of party lists. The Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee of the upper house of parliament debated on Tuesday the House of Representatives elections bill. The government-sponsored bill initially required parties to

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Shura Council members voted down legislation requiring political parties to display female candidates at the top of party lists. The Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee of the upper house of parliament debated on Tuesday the House of Representatives elections bill. The government-sponsored bill initially required parties to

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Morocco’s Gender-Equality Laws Fail to Improve Situation

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Morocco’s Gender-Equality Laws Fail to Improve Situation

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In the last 10 years, Morocco has witnessed two divergent trends relating to economic equality between women and men.

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In the last 10 years, Morocco has witnessed two divergent trends relating to economic equality between women and men.

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Morocco’s Gender-Equality Laws Fail to Improve Situation

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Morocco’s Gender-Equality Laws Fail to Improve Situation

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In the last 10 years, Morocco has witnessed two divergent trends relating to economic equality between women and men.

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In the last 10 years, Morocco has witnessed two divergent trends relating to economic equality between women and men.

Democracy at the Local Level

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April 1, 2013

Democracy at the Local Level

In today’s globalizing world, there is growing emphasis on local democracy. More than ever, cities need new ideas for ways of managing the political challenges and opportunities that arise from increased urbanization and globalization.

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In today’s globalizing world, there is growing emphasis on local democracy. More than ever, cities need new ideas for ways of managing the political challenges and opportunities that arise from increased urbanization and globalization.

UNDP Human Development Report 2013: The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World

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March 22, 2013

UNDP Human Development Report 2013: The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World

One of the most heartening developments in recent years has been the broad progress in human development of many developing countries and their emergence onto the global stage: the “rise of the South”.

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One of the most heartening developments in recent years has been the broad progress in human development of many developing countries and their emergence onto the global stage: the “rise of the South”.

Stanford Course on Democratic Development

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March 20, 2013

Stanford Course on Democratic Development

Democratic Development is intended as a broad, introductory survey of the political, social, cultural, economic, institutional, and international factors that foster or obstruct the development, and consolidation, of democracy.

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Democratic Development is intended as a broad, introductory survey of the political, social, cultural, economic, institutional, and international factors that foster or obstruct the development, and consolidation, of democracy.

World News

Women’s Security in the Middle East and North Africa

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Women’s Security in the Middle East and North Africa

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What are the challenges to women’s security in the MENA region?

Responses catalog a host of concerns: eroding legal rights for women, economic vulnerability, rises in trafficking, and prostitution out of desperation. They also speak to a worrisome uptick in targeted violence against women–violence intended to scare women out of public spaces, out of politics, and back into the home. Over a third of the respondents named rape specifically as either a tool of war or intimidation, and another third denounced the rising number of mass sexual assault on women. 

 

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Print article

What are the challenges to women’s security in the MENA region?

Responses catalog a host of concerns: eroding legal rights for women, economic vulnerability, rises in trafficking, and prostitution out of desperation. They also speak to a worrisome uptick in targeted violence against women–violence intended to scare women out of public spaces, out of politics, and back into the home. Over a third of the respondents named rape specifically as either a tool of war or intimidation, and another third denounced the rising number of mass sexual assault on women. 

 

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