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Local Government

Local governments are in a unique position to contribute to the global struggle for gender equality by improving the status of women around the world. Local Governments are the level of governance closest to the citizens and as service providers and employers have an important role in creating the conditions that encourage women’s political participation. In this special feature, we are collecting knowledge resources, case studies, stories and interviews from women active in local politics.  

World News

Saudi Arabia may execute first female political activist

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Saudi Arabia may execute first female political activist

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Human rights activists are campaigning to save the life of the first woman in Saudi Arabia to be sentenced to death over her political activism. 

Israa al-Ghomgham, 29, was arrested along with her husband Moussa al-Hashem in December 2015 for their roles in organising anti-government protests in eastern Qatif province in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.  

Human rights activists are campaigning to save the life of the first woman in Saudi Arabia to be sentenced to death over her political activism. 

Israa al-Ghomgham, 29, was arrested along with her husband Moussa al-Hashem in December 2015 for their roles in organising anti-government protests in eastern Qatif province in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.  

World News

Academic rues marginalized position of women in political sphere

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Academic rues marginalized position of women in political sphere

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Mysuru: Pointing out that representation of women in India was worse than that of Pakistana and Nepal, retired professor of political science at the University of Mysore (UoM) Prof. M Umapathi on Sunday said that only 9% of the elected legislators in the various assemblies of the country were women – putting India in an embarrassing 148th position of the 193 countries across the world in this regard.

Mysuru: Pointing out that representation of women in India was worse than that of Pakistana and Nepal, retired professor of political science at the University of Mysore (UoM) Prof. M Umapathi on Sunday said that only 9% of the elected legislators in the various assemblies of the country were women – putting India in an embarrassing 148th position of the 193 countries across the world in this regard.

World News

Smashing records: More women have won primaries than ever before

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Smashing records: More women have won primaries than ever before

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Women are not just running for office in record numbers this year — they are winning.

Women are not just running for office in record numbers this year — they are winning.

Interviews

World News

Colombia see summer of surge for women in politics

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Colombia see summer of surge for women in politics

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Last week, the new President of Colombia, Iván Duque, swore in his vice president, Marta Lucía Ramírez.

She is Colombia’s first female vice president.

Ramírez’s oath of office would have been a historic enough moment – but the bigger story is that half the cabinet she’ll lead are also women, in charge of ministries from Justice to Energy to Culture. It’s the first time a Colombian government has had that top-level gender parity.

Last week, the new President of Colombia, Iván Duque, swore in his vice president, Marta Lucía Ramírez.

She is Colombia’s first female vice president.

Ramírez’s oath of office would have been a historic enough moment – but the bigger story is that half the cabinet she’ll lead are also women, in charge of ministries from Justice to Energy to Culture. It’s the first time a Colombian government has had that top-level gender parity.

World News

Democratic women candidates continue to expand their numbers, Republicans stay static

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Democratic women candidates continue to expand their numbers, Republicans stay static

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Results from Tuesday night’s primaries in four states offered yet another strong showing by women candidates this cycle, particularly on the Democratic side. CRP took this opportunity to examine the data on women candidates over time, with special attention to the results by party and gender for candidates in primary races.

Results from Tuesday night’s primaries in four states offered yet another strong showing by women candidates this cycle, particularly on the Democratic side. CRP took this opportunity to examine the data on women candidates over time, with special attention to the results by party and gender for candidates in primary races.

World News

France's gender equality Minister has already cracked down on catcalling and online abuse. She's just getting started

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France's gender equality Minister has already cracked down on catcalling and online abuse. She's just getting started

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The first time a man stopped Marlène Schiappa and said something obscene, she was 14 years old and walking down a street in Paris’ northern 19th arrondissement. Shocked, she rushed home to her apartment and told her family. They were unsurprised. “They just told me, ‘Oh, that’s normal. It’s always like that,’” says Schiappa, who has served as France’s Minister for Gender Equality since May 2017. When it happened again, she didn’t bring it up.

The first time a man stopped Marlène Schiappa and said something obscene, she was 14 years old and walking down a street in Paris’ northern 19th arrondissement. Shocked, she rushed home to her apartment and told her family. They were unsurprised. “They just told me, ‘Oh, that’s normal. It’s always like that,’” says Schiappa, who has served as France’s Minister for Gender Equality since May 2017. When it happened again, she didn’t bring it up.

World News

Where are all the women in Nigerian politics?

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Where are all the women in Nigerian politics?

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Daring to join the male-dominated world of Nigerian politics was a tough decision for Ladi Mamman Watila, particularly in the conservative north-eastern state of Borno. But in 2003, Watila ran for a seat in the House of Representatives (the lower house of the National Assembly of Nigeria) on behalf of the All Nigeria People’s Party. Most of her opponents were men who felt she was better suited to the kitchen than the rough and tumble of national politics.

Daring to join the male-dominated world of Nigerian politics was a tough decision for Ladi Mamman Watila, particularly in the conservative north-eastern state of Borno. But in 2003, Watila ran for a seat in the House of Representatives (the lower house of the National Assembly of Nigeria) on behalf of the All Nigeria People’s Party. Most of her opponents were men who felt she was better suited to the kitchen than the rough and tumble of national politics.