The right to vote and the right to stand for election are two fundamental elements of democracy. Notably, many countries did not afford women the right to vote until the 20th Century. Even today, universal suffrage is not a given right in all countries, and women often face obstacles that undermine their participation in political and electoral processes. There are various ways to support women in overcoming these obstacles. Such methods include revising the electoral system used, applying affirmative action mechanisms such as quotas, improving voter education for women and training political candidates. These are a few of the modes available to strengthen women’s political participation .Photo©Jens Franssen
Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls says Australia can help Pacific nations improve poor levels of female leadership.
Natasha Stott-Despoja is the head of an Australian delegation to Tonga to meet about 30 women in politics from around the region.
With support from UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, the Network of NGOs in Trinidad and Tobago is training women to be more effective in running for election. They seek to learn the rules, use the rules and change the system.
Women in Zanzibar will have more courage to take part in future elections, should the BRIDGE training introduced in Zanzibar be effective.
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As Burundi heads towards the 2015 general elections, and despite a quota of 30 percent women’s representation in parliament, women in this southeast African nation feel that they are yet to have a significant say in the management of their country.
The first round of presidential elections in Turkey is scheduled to take place on August 10 and the second round on August 24th. Abdullah GUL was the last p
The election scheduled to take place on July 13th follows the resignation of the centre-left Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek in May after she lost a battle for the leadership of the Positive Sloveni
Ana Luisa Rodríguez de González has already served four terms as the mayor of Atiquizaya. She won her first election in 2003. In that same year, of the 262 municipal councils holding elections, only 15 were led by women.