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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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Africa Women's Political Leadership

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Africa Women's Political Leadership

This group is open to all women who wish to discuss women's political participation in sub-Saharan Africa. The Club of Madrid African Women Leaders Project brought together women from Nigeria, Uganda and Sierra Leone in a conference in Brussels in October 2008.

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This group is open to all women who wish to discuss women's political participation in sub-Saharan Africa. The Club of Madrid African Women Leaders Project brought together women from Nigeria, Uganda and Sierra Leone in a conference in Brussels in October 2008.

European Women's Lobby 50/50 Campaign

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October 10, 2008

European Women's Lobby 50/50 Campaign

The “50/50 Campaign for Democracy” of the European Women’s Lobby is a push for concrete action to increase women’s presence in politics and in the 2009 European Parliament elections.

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The “50/50 Campaign for Democracy” of the European Women’s Lobby is a push for concrete action to increase women’s presence in politics and in the 2009 European Parliament elections.

EWL Lobbying Kit: No Modern European Democracy without Gender Equality

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October 7, 2008

EWL Lobbying Kit: No Modern European Democracy without Gender Equality

The Kit has been produced in the context of the EWL Campaign “No Modern European Democracy without Gender Equality” to be launched officially in September 2009. The Kit comprises of two sections.

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The Kit has been produced in the context of the EWL Campaign “No Modern European Democracy without Gender Equality” to be launched officially in September 2009. The Kit comprises of two sections.

Independent Women Candidates in Local Elections in Mali

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September 16, 2008

Independent Women Candidates in Local Elections in Mali

This consolidated response highlights recommendations on how to empower independent women candidates to succeed in elections.

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This consolidated response highlights recommendations on how to empower independent women candidates to succeed in elections.

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Explaining Women’s Representation: The Role of Legislative Recruitment & Electoral Systems

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August 28, 2008

Explaining Women’s Representation: The Role of Legislative Recruitment & Electoral Systems

This paper examines the principal steps involved in the process of recruiting individuals to countries’ legislatures. It also looks at the effect of development, culture, and a country’s electoral system on women’s representation.

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This paper examines the principal steps involved in the process of recruiting individuals to countries’ legislatures. It also looks at the effect of development, culture, and a country’s electoral system on women’s representation.

Conditions determining the level of representation of women: The experience of quota system in Latin America

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August 28, 2008

Conditions determining the level of representation of women: The experience of quota system in Latin America

This report provides a general view of the position of women in the legislative powers in three periods: between the 1970s and the 1980s, around 1995 and in 2004.

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This report provides a general view of the position of women in the legislative powers in three periods: between the 1970s and the 1980s, around 1995 and in 2004.

South Africa: Women and Local Government

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August 27, 2008

South Africa: Women and Local Government

This article describes the participation and representation of women in local government elections in South Africa.

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This article describes the participation and representation of women in local government elections in South Africa.

The Participation of Women in South Africa's First Democratic Election

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August 27, 2008

The Participation of Women in South Africa's First Democratic Election

This article describes the participation of women in the 1994 election in South Africa, and the particular difficulties women candidates faced during this election.

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This article describes the participation of women in the 1994 election in South Africa, and the particular difficulties women candidates faced during this election.

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