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International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

International Women’s Day presents an opportunity to take stock and reinforce the sought-after goals for women’s empowerment in all spheres of life. The global pursuit to #BalanceforBetter can only be attained when there is zero tolerance for any form of discrimination against women and girls, when there is no impunity for violence against all women and girls, not because they are daughters, sisters, wives or mothers but simply because they are human.

International IDEA’s contributes towards the vision of #BalanceforBetter through multi-dimensional initiatives on levelling the playing field for the inclusive political participation and representation of women in democracy building processes and institutions at all levels. Levelling the playing field initiatives place emphasis on unpacking the entrenched barriers that women encounter in politics, particularly to be elected into leadership and decision-making positions.

The barriers are numerous and entrenched, for instance within a countries’ social and cultural systems and practices, political parties and systems, electoral systems and processes and political financing frameworks. The need for sustained and systematic socio-cultural, political and legislative transformative reforms in several countries across the world cannot be overemphasised.

Some critical reforms are needed in electoral systems and processes, political party laws and intraparty democracy processes and systems and political financing. For instance, the equal access and participation of women and men in political and electoral processes is largely determined by the intra-party democracy cultures, systems and processes, particularly the identification, selection and nomination of candi­dates. In many instances the low participation and representation of women is in fact part of the broader issue of cultural and traditional attitudes that are entrenched within and perpetuated by political party norms, systems, practices, procedures and access to leadership positions which are male-dominated. In addition, women often have less access than men to the resources needed to successfully contest for a party nomination or in an election and political parties tend to nominate men for elective decision making positions.

The fact that political parties are regarded as the real gatekeepers to accessing positions of power and the advancement of women in politics, entails that it is at the political party level that women’s empowerment and gender equality principles must be put into practice. Political movements or parties as institutions that can support democracy building should therefore provide an enabling environment for the meaningful participation of both men and women.

A country’s constitution provides the framework for its legal system, which shapes not only the political status of women, but their economic and social status as well. The #BalanceforBetter goal calls for a closer examination of several constitutions across the world in terms of the constitutional provisions for equality and non-discrimination of all women and girls. In addition, the extent to which any of the constitutional provisions are translated into substantive equality needs to be monitored because the articulation of equality and non-discrimination is not enough to guarantee the equal treatment of women.   

One of the strategic approaches towards levelling the playing field to attain the #BalanceforBetter goal is the institutionalisation of gender quotas to increase opportunities for women to participate in political and electoral processes and ultimately access the positions of power and decision making at all levels. Affirmative action measures/mechanisms such as legislated gender quotas are globally defined measures that are anchored in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Due to the slow pace at which women’s representation in political decision making is growing, there are increasing calls for more effective measures to address the representation gap in positions of power and decision making at all levels. Many countries are currently applying gender quotas for elective decision-making positions, with half of the countries of the world applying some type of gender quota for their parliaments.

The undisputable advocacy on women’s participation and representation is about two equally important aspects, firstly, the physical presence of women, “the politics of presence” as actual human beings in politics and decision-making institutions and processes.The focus on the physical presence of women is grounded in the recognition that women’s participation and representation is a democratic imperative as they constitute half of the world’s population. Secondly, it is about the presence of women’s concerns and strategic interests on the political agendas and in the outcomes of decision-making processes. It is evident that men, however well informed and sympathetic to women’s concerns, cannot represent women in all respects due to different life situations and experiences. Women should, therefore, be able to contribute their perspectives on policy and public decisions that affect their lives. #BalanceforBetter is long overdue!

Source: International IDEA.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

At a time when innovation is dominant, shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world, we have to be intentional about its use to positively impact the lives of women and girls. That means making sure they are not only consumers of innovation, but take their place as innovators. With their engagement, both design and execution of solutions can address the unique needs of women and girls, from the creation of decent work to delivery of products, services and infrastructure for women in all walks of life. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change” puts innovation at the centre of efforts to reflect the needs and viewpoints of women and girls and to resolve barriers to public services and opportunities.

Remoteness need no longer be an exclusion issue when mobile money technology and digital payments can deliver social benefits to even the most remote households. Lack of roads need not prevent life-saving medication from reaching patients, with smart inventions like 15-year old Nigerian Eno Ekanem’s drone to make drops to rural areas, controlled by SMS messaging.

Lack of electric light did not stop Midwife Lorina Karway from delivering babies at night in remote parts of Liberia; she improvised using her phone light. Now however, simple, low-cost solar lamps made by women have brought a creative, sustainable solution to Lorina, and to multiple health centres and individual homes that previously lacked access to energy infrastructure. This important invention that jumpstarts access to modern renewable energy can be further developed to be even easier to handle and use.

Women’s fresh, relevant thinking also brings transformative change to large-scale infrastructure, both virtual and physical. Our Buy from Women Enterprise Platform uses mobile technology to connect women farmers and cooperatives to information, finance and markets, optimizing the supply chain for women. The large ‘Senergy’ solar-power project in Dakar, Senegal drew on women’s views in development, bringing shared benefits such as upgrades to the local school, the funding of a microcredit association to promote women’s businesses in the local area, and premises for a maternity unit. Syrian architect Marwa al-Sabouni’s award-winning vision for the redevelopment of the razed district of Baba Amr, Homs, includes ways to restore cooperation, social cohesion, and a sense of identity after the devastation of war.

Innovation and technology reflect their designers and makers. Knowing that algorithms increasingly determine selection and response, we need to react to the growing evidence that women have been routinely left out of the data on which decisions are made. “Big data’ is only a reliable support for decision-making if it draws on a pool of unbiased information.

Groups that are under-represented and marginalized based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socio-economic status also need to have the opportunity to create and to provide feedback on what is created by others. This might be urban planning that designs for commuter or pedestrian safety with simple measures like better lighting and walkways that reflect crowdsourced data on hotspot attack or harassment zones. Or it could be toilet constructions that support women’s period management needs. Or the use of biometrics as ID to replace formal registration documents that many women may not have or control. In any of these scenarios, innovation and technology with a gender perspective are crucial to remove barriers and accelerate progress for gender equality.

Our Global Innovation Coalition for Change brings representatives from the private sector, academia, and non-profit institutions to develop the innovation market so as to work better for women and to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change, and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives. As we have seen from recent marches for climate action in Europe and elsewhere—they are ready to do so.

When we put the focus on those who are least heard, and least visible—whether individuals, or those hundreds of millions of informal sector workers who currently have little or no presence in official planning, or financial protection that will sustain them in ill-heath, child care or older age—we are tackling some of the deepest-reaching social problems and can make the progress we want to see.

Source: UN Women.

International Women’s Day
40th Anniversary of CEDAW

Women’s leadership and the equal participation of women and men in public affairs and decision-making are matters of human rights which are key elements of democracy and lasting peace, and prerequisites for achieving sustainable development.

Our societies will not enjoy human rights, peace, sustainable and inclusive development, if they are not grounded in effective gender parity, if they do not benefit from women’s leadership and the empowerment of women and girls as expressly recommended by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee).

Since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Member States have demonstrated their political commitment to equal participation of women and men in public affairs and decision-making including by endorsing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the 1953 Convention on the Political Rights of Women.

Women’s participation and equal opportunities for leadership are at the center of the Member States commitments enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Goal 5. The Member States committed to “ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.” They also agreed to “adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.”

In its landmark resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, the United Nations Security Council stressed the importance of women’s equal participation and full involvement at all levels and in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.

The 1997 Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union states that “the achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society”.

Significant progress has been made in terms of women’s political participation and leadership despite many difficulties and some setbacks. In 1995 the global proportion of women parliamentarians was 11.3 per cent and today, in a time of sweeping change and great challenges, it is 24.3 percent (plus 13 percentage points).

However, globally only 7.2 per cent of Heads of State and 5.7 per cent of Heads of Government are women, only 19.1 per cent of Speakers of parliament are women, and only 18.3 per cent of government ministers are women[1]. Various obstacles continue to hinder women’s equal participation and leadership in politics, including the lack of empowerment policies for women and girls, stereotyping, persistent discrimination against women in law and practice, harassment, intimidation and violence.

The 40th anniversary of the adoption of the CEDAW is a unique occasion to draw the world’s attention to this stark reality. No time to waste. We need to garner our collective strength and efforts to reach parity in political leadership by 2030.

Recommendations

As consistently repeated by the CEDAW Committee, Member States must as a matter of priority and in line with Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development implement strategies that will truly advance parity in politics in close cooperation with civil society organizations. Such strategies would include:

• Accelerating full compliance by States of their laws, rules and practices with international human rights obligations particularly in relation to the empowerment of women and young women.
• Embedding gender parity in constitutions and legal frameworks, and setting out in the legal framework a 50 per cent women’s representation in parliament and government as an objective to be reached by 2030.
• Adopting, reinforcing, implementing, and monitoring the necessary measures that have proved to be useful and successful in facilitating women’s access to elected office and to leadership positions, including electoral gender quotas.
• Ensuring an equal number of women and men in leadership positions in all governance bodies, through transparent and fair processes, such as dual leadership and gender rotation in leadership positions.
• Adopting legislation and policies to eliminate all forms of violence against women in politics and implementing capacity-building programmes for women activists, candidates, politicians and parliamentarians.
• Promoting new media strategies, including through social media, that promote women’s leadership and gender equality and that eliminate gender stereotypes.
• Having or reinforcing a gender equality perspective in education policies and all civic education activities for women and girls, and working towards closing the gender gap in educational opportunities, and bridging the digital divide.

Source: IPU.