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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

July 30, 2013
We need to encourage women to run for election - Sen. Averil Power, Ireland

In Ireland, the rate of female participation in politics is one of the lowest in Europe

Just 15 per cent of Dail members are women, which ranks 5th in Europe, according to European Parliament figures collected after the general election in 2011. 

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July 30, 2013
Women's Safety A Concern For Zimbabwe Elections

 I moved away from Zimbabwe almost 15 years ago. In the early years I inhaled all the news I could; watching in shock as my home country descended into crisis.

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July 30, 2013
India: Major political parties still shy of fielding women

India may boast a woman President, Prime Minister and Speaker, but when it comes to selecting candidates, key political parties still have a long way to go.

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July 29, 2013
Women in politics: The Serbia you have not heard of

Serbia, an aspiring European Union member, succeeded in increasing the percentage of women in its Parliament substantially within the last year.

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July 29, 2013
USA: Why are there so few women in the Michigan legislature?

Women are outnumbered in state legislatures around the country, particularly in Michigan, where female representation is at its lowest point in more than two decades.

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July 28, 2013
Rwanda: Women Poised to Retain Majority in Parliament

With constitutional quotas for interest group seats in their favour and all political parties legally bound to respect women's quota of at least 30 per cent of their parliamentary nominees, women may retain or even widen their majority in the Chamber of Deputies after the upcoming September e

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July 28, 2013
The straight-shooting woman taking on the 'boys' club' of French politics

PARIS -- The politician known as “NKM” is a rising star in France - a tough, military-trained engineer first elected to the National Assembly at the age of just 29 and tipped by some as a future president.

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July 28, 2013
Kuwait’s First Female Candidate on Women’s Participation in Elections

Kuwait City, Asharq Al-Awsat—Kuwaitis went to the polls this week to elect their third parliament in 17 months. Despite having the oldest and most powerful parliament in the Arab Gulf, Kuwait has a turbulent political scene: no parliament has served its full term since 2003.

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July 28, 2013
Safa first woman to win two consecutive times, Kuwait

Manama: Safa Al Hashem has made history in Kuwait by becoming the first woman lawmaker to win seats in two consecutive parliamentary elections.

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