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Parliaments and Representatives

Democracy and the equal participation of men and women in the political arena are closely intertwined. No parliament or any decision-making body can claim to be representative without the participation of both men and women. As stated in the Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Member Parliaments in 1997, "The achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementarity, drawing mutual enrichment from their differences."

Recent years have seen a steady increase in the number of women in parliament, though the world average of less than 22 percent remains far from the goal of parity between women and men. The election of women to the highest positions of state and government in several countries has also contributed to the changing face of politics.

While the road to election is a difficult one, the challenges for women do not stop there. Once women enter parliament or other bodies, they are faced with many new challenges. Parliament is traditionally a male-oriented domain where the rules and practices have been written by men. It is, therefore, an ongoing challenge to transform parliament into a gender-sensitive environment, to ensure that actions are gender-sensitive and to guarantee that gender is mainstreamed throughout the legislature.

Training Modules to Increase Women's Political Participation

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June 6, 2014

Training Modules to Increase Women's Political Participation

These new training materials take best practices and approaches from NDI's work around the world and make them into a set of tools to increase the quality of training programs for women as voters, advocates, elections officials, political party members, candidates and office holders.

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These new training materials take best practices and approaches from NDI's work around the world and make them into a set of tools to increase the quality of training programs for women as voters, advocates, elections officials, political party members, candidates and office holders.

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Practical Women's Leadership Power Tools to Advance Your Career

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June 6, 2014

Practical Women's Leadership Power Tools to Advance Your Career

Are you considering your next career move? Want to advance faster in leadership or compensation? Puzzled by power politics in the office? Accelerate your career and uptick your leadership skills with this innovative, 9 practical women’s leadership “Power Tools” program entirely online.

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Are you considering your next career move? Want to advance faster in leadership or compensation? Puzzled by power politics in the office? Accelerate your career and uptick your leadership skills with this innovative, 9 practical women’s leadership “Power Tools” program entirely online.

May 30, 2014
Newly-elected European Parliament to stand strong and ambitious on women's health and rights

On the occasion of the International Day of Action for Women's Health, European public health, health promotion and disease prevention, health professionals and women issues non-governmental organisations are calling for the newly elected European Parliament (EP), its Committees and political par

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May 30, 2014
Building Women's Political Presence: The AAP story, India

India's 16th General Election has been the most expensive exercise of its kind in the country's history. One estimate puts the figure at Rs 30,000 crore, a tad shy of the bill notched up in the 2012 US presidential polls.

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May 30, 2014
Why the Lack of Women in Politics? USA

Washington has been criticized for being under constant gridlock for the majority of the last five years. This gridlock leads many people to think cynically about our government. The issue of women holding political office is treated cynically as well.

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May 30, 2014
Indonesia Likely To Have Fewer Women In Parliament

Despite the increase in the number of female candidates in the parliamentary elections held throughout Indonesia on April 9, 2014, the country would likely fail to meet its target of increasing womens representation in the 560-seat Parliament for the 2014-2019 period.

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May 27, 2014
Kicking sexism out of politics, Malaysia

The moment there was an inkling that Dyana Sofya would be DAP’s candidate for the Teluk Intan Parliamentary seat, a picture purportedly of her (it wasn’t) in a bikini was circulated on the internet.

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May 27, 2014
More women is the key to cutting corruption, Australia

IN THIS heady age of grimy corruption revelations, thanks to the ICAC merry-go-round, it's good to know there's a simple answer to end corruption in politics.

That is, to get more women elected Australia-wide, according to Lennox Head-based NSW Upper House MP Catherine Cusack.

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