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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

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Key Gains and Challenges: A Gender Audit of Kenya's 2013 Election Process

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January 13, 2014

Key Gains and Challenges: A Gender Audit of Kenya's 2013 Election Process

“Every country deserves to have the best possible leader and that means that women have to be given a chance to compete. If they’re never allowed to compete in the electoral process, then the countries are really robbing  themselves of a great deal of talent.” -Madeleine K.

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“Every country deserves to have the best possible leader and that means that women have to be given a chance to compete. If they’re never allowed to compete in the electoral process, then the countries are really robbing  themselves of a great deal of talent.” -Madeleine K.

January 12, 2014
Female candidates will face uphill battle in 2014 election in Indonesia

Despite efforts to increase the number of women in politics, they still face an uphill battle to join the male-dominated political world, a political expert has said.

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January 11, 2014
Michelle Wu talks of change, votes otherwise

Ayanna Pressley and Michelle Wu stood side by side at the swearing-in of Boston’s new mayor, both symbols of the changing face of city politics.

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January 6, 2014
17 women elected MPs in 10th JS, Bangladesh

The 10th parliamentary polls see 17 women candidates elected, according to unofficial results of the election. The number is just one less than the historic high of the 2008 election, when 18 women were elected.

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January 5, 2014
Why It Didn’t Work for Liz Cheney, USA

Liz Cheney cited family health concerns as her reason for dropping out of the Wyoming Senate race, but her exit Monday came after months of struggling to gain traction in a Republican primary challenge to Sen. Michael B. Enzi.

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January 5, 2014
2014 Election Blog: A Look at Gender Quotas ahead of Latin America's 2014 Legislative Votes

A number of Latin American countries are preparing for congressional elections in 2014, and gender quotas will play a role in the number of women vying for legislative seats.

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December 26, 2013
Number of women in politics back in focus, Cambodia

Finding out why women’s voices are not being listened to is imperative to increasing the proportion of female political representation in Cambodia, a meeting heard yesterday.

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