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

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HAITI: Presidential and Legislative Elections - Second Round

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HAITI: Presidential and Legislative Elections - Second Round

On March 20, Haiti will hold the second round of its presidential and parliamentary elections.

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IRELAND: Parliamentary Election

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IRELAND: Parliamentary Election

Ireland will hold parliamentary elections February 25th.

Sub-regional (ECOWAS) Consultation on Gender Parity in Decision Making Structures/Institutions

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November 10, 2010

Sub-regional (ECOWAS) Consultation on Gender Parity in Decision Making Structures/Institutions

The African Union Commission and International IDEA launched a 5 year Joint Activity Plan (JAP) in 2008. The Joint Activity Plan is designed to support the African Union Commission in implementing its mandate related to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance that was ad

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UNITED STATES: Election

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UNITED STATES: Election

The 2010 midterm election will be held on Tuesday, November 2 with at least 36 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested and all House seats coming up for election.

The Impact of Illiteracy on Young Women's Political Participation

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October 6, 2010

The Impact of Illiteracy on Young Women's Political Participation

In electoral and decision-making processes, women - and especially young women - often find themselves spectators rather than active participants. While there are many factors at play, non-education stands out as one of the key reasons for the lack of young women’s political participation.