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Elections

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

Promoting women´s political representation overseas

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September 20, 2013

Promoting women´s political representation overseas

Women make up over half of the world’s population – but they hold only about one-fifth of the seats in national legislatures across the globe.
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Women make up over half of the world’s population – but they hold only about one-fifth of the seats in national legislatures across the globe.
September 19, 2013
As Election Nears in Afghanistan, Women’s Political Participation Is Critical

Last May, Afghanistan’s upper house of parliament quietly removed an electoral law that stipulated that a quarter of all provincial council seats should be allotted to women. When women politicians found out nearly a month later, they fought to have the bill recalled.

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September 19, 2013
Women still struggling to win big-city mayoral jobs, USA

High-profile mayoral elections this year have already proved that the steps to City Hall remain steep for female candidates.

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September 18, 2013
Quotas best way to elect more women

Women's representation in parliaments is most likely to increase where there is some sort of system of quotas, an analysis of international elections held last year shows.

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September 18, 2013
Women Who Made It to Parliament, Rwanda

The just concluded parliamentary elections featured women who didn't ask for equality and leadership to be handed to them on a platter. They chose to fight it out with male candidates for their respective positions.

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September 18, 2013
Women prevented from voting during NA-25 DI Khan by-elections, Pakistan

Women voters were prevented from participating in the by-elections taking place in the Union Council Kari Shamuzi NA-25 earlier today, Express News reported.

The reason behind this is not yet known.

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September 18, 2013
Where have all the women gone? Panel will talk L.A. gender politics, USA

Why are there so few female elected officials in the second largest city in the country? Of 18 elected positions in City Hall, only one is held by a woman — Nury Martinez, who joined the council in July.

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September 18, 2013
Disappointing Number of Women in Cabinet, Zimbabwe

Women make up 34% of the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe, with 32% in the National Assembly and 48% of Senate. Although the quota for women in parliament led to the dramatic increase from 19% in 2008 to 34%, the number of women who actually won, fell from 34 to 26.

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September 17, 2013
Hazel Brown hoping for more women councillors in Trinidad and Tobago

Hazel Brown, co-ordinator of the Network of NGOs for the advancement of women, hopes after the October 21 local government elections that 50 per cent of councillors will be women as well as 50 per cent of aldermen elected under the newly-implemented proportional representation. Brown mad

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