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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

Kenya election: sexist language shows that patriarchy refuses to give way

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March 21, 2022

Kenya election: sexist language shows that patriarchy refuses to give way

In December 2020, a leading Kenyan political party official, Edwin Sifuna, made vulgar remarks against a woman member of parliament. While campaigning for their political allies in a by-election, Sifuna said the woman is “not attractive enough to rape”.

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In December 2020, a leading Kenyan political party official, Edwin Sifuna, made vulgar remarks against a woman member of parliament. While campaigning for their political allies in a by-election, Sifuna said the woman is “not attractive enough to rape”.

March 20, 2022
Meet the women in Timor-Leste's presidential election

As Timor-Leste looks to its presidential elections on Saturday, several female candidates are standing. Will they persuade the new generation of voters of a need for a greater voice in politics?

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March 18, 2022
Lebanese women in Parliament: So many barriers and very little progress

The general political context in 2022 is definitely different from that of 2018. But will the new Lebanese Parliament consist of more than six women following the May 15 elections?

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Does Timor-Leste’s upcoming election herald a more inclusive and progressive democracy?

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March 15, 2022

Does Timor-Leste’s upcoming election herald a more inclusive and progressive democracy?

Next week’s election will feature more female candidates than ever, but their impact on the country’s patriarchal cultural norms remains to be seen.

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Next week’s election will feature more female candidates than ever, but their impact on the country’s patriarchal cultural norms remains to be seen.

March 14, 2022
Francia Márquez, the Colombian electoral phenomenon

The environmental leader won more votes than the center candidate Sergio Fajardo without having held public office and with a campaign that began only three months ago.

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March 11, 2022
International IDEA supports a regional campaign on women political participation: 'Her Participation, our future' #مشاركتها_مستقبلنا

International IDEA has made women's participation one of its main axes in improving the inclusiveness of electoral processes in the Arab region.

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March 10, 2022
After #MeToo, the female factor shakes up France’s presidential race

Two women frontrunners seek to unseat Macron as feminist issues move up the agenda.

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March 10, 2022
Meaningful inclusion demands constant investment, but female local officials have barely got it

The 22 years old Saraswati Nepali is the mom of two kids and lives approximately five hours' drive (and five hours walk) away from the headquarter of Karnali Province, Surkhet—a place that paid the heaviest of prices in the 10 year-long armed conflict from 1996-2006.

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March 10, 2022
How feminism became a hot topic in South Korea's presidential election

A furious crowd gathered in central Seoul last month to protest against the policies of a man who isn't even in power.

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