UNIFEM WOMEN,WAR AND PEACE WEB PORTAL: ELECTIONS

Civil Society and NGO Reports, Papers and Statements


30 Years of Democracy: Riding the Wave? Women's Political Participation in Latin America
IDEA-March 2008
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) has released the report entitled “30 Years of Democracy: Riding the Wave? Women’s Political Participation in Latin America. The report draws data from 18 countries in the Latin American region, exams the progress made in women’s participation in politics, and gives statistics on women’s political representation in areas which were before exclusive to men.
The study analyzes the progress achieved by women in certain posts, why some countries have advanced more than others, presents the obstacles encountered by women and offers recommendations for improving women’s situation in public life.

To register and download the full report, please click HERE

Women in the Americas: Paths to Political Power
Inter-American Dialogue, Inter-American Development Bank, League of Women Voters, January 1, 2008
Women in Latin America and the Caribbean are making tremendous strides towards achieving political leadership. In 2000, the Inter-American Dialogue and the Inter-American Development Bank partnered to host a dialogue of women political leaders. The report from that meeting concluded that in Latin America and the Caribbean, “the highest circles of power still remain largely male dominated.”

For the full report, please click HERE

INSTRAW Launches 'Gender, Governance and Women's Political Participation' Section of Website
INSTRAW, January 2006
INSTRAW’s objective in launching this section is to open a space for the analysis of the interrelationship between gender, governance and women’s political participation. These pages are intended to be an introduction to this theme, as well as a source of updated information and a space for the exchange of experiences for researchers, activists, policy makers and professionals.

The section offers a brief background and analytical framework on the theme and a glossary, fact-sheet, annotated bibliography, directory of organizations and other resources, as well as a brief description of INSTRAW’s activities related to the theme.

INSTRAW considers that integrating a gender perspective into governance and the current decentralization processes is fundamental for obtaining an equitable and inclusive human sustainable development. At the same time, it is necessary to have a greater and transformative presence of women in decision-making positions along with a strong women’s and feminist movement that favour the recognition of women’s rights, their empowerment and the exercise of their full citizenship.

The new webpage can be found at:
http://www.un-instraw.org/en/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1015&Itemid=231

Women in Armed Opposition Groups in Africa and the Promotion of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
Geneva Call and the Program for the Study of International Organizations, Addis Ababa, 23-26 November 2005
The objective of the 2005 Addis Ababa workshop was to identify ways of strengthening the understanding and observance of international humanitarian law and human rights law within the African armed groups and their political wings. At the same time, the workshop sought to contribute to African and international organizations’ understanding of and ability to work with armed opposition groups to promote and uphold international humanitarian and human rights norms. Four topics were discussed during the workshop: humanitarian law, human rights law, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and transition into governance roles. This report presents information and analyses that came out of these four thematic working groups.

For the full report, please click HERE

Over 20000 People Reached by Successful Advocacy Campaign on a Gender Sensitive Electoral Law in the Democratic Republic of Congo
UNIFEM, November 25, 2005
A two weeks high level advocacy campaign to promote equal access of women and men to electoral mandates and electoral offices has concluded in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The campaign was organized by different women networks and organizations , working together under a ‘Coalition for Gender Equality’ and supported by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), MONUC, the Independent Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs.

The SADC and Gender 2005 Campaign
Gender Links, Fall 2005
The SADC and Gender 2005 Campaign is a civil society initiative in partnership with the SADC Gender Unit and the SADC Parliamentary Forum to raise the current target of women in decision-making from thirty to fifty percent, and to elevate the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development to a Protocol.
For information on this campaign, please see: http://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=265

Critical Half-Journal: Gender and Constitution-Building: From Paper To Practice
Women For Women International, Bi-Annual Journal, Summer 2005
This journal focuses on gender and constitution building, and the impact they have on each other. It examines issues such as how to enshrine women’s rights in constitutions, what constitutes equality and provides specific case studies in Afghanistan and Uganda.
For more information on the Critical Half Journal, please see: http://www.womenforwomen.org

Position Paper on Women in Togo
Concept Paper on Women in Togo
Women in Peacebuilding Network, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)-Togo, 8 March 2005
Women cannot continue to follow male politicians without a clear analysis of the political situation. Consequently WIPNET Togo makes a clear appeal to all women to mobilise themselves en masse to engage not just in the political process but to serve as agents of reconciliation between the former regime and the opposition in order to end the crisis and create an enabling environment for peace and human security.

Negotiating the Transition to Democracy and Reforming the Security Sector: The Vital Contributions of South African Women
Sanam Naraghi Anderlini and Camille Pampell Conaway, Women Waging Peace, Policy Commission, August 2004

Collation of Laws on Women's Political Participation
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, 2003
This collation provides a record of existing bills, laws and regulations and rules that affect and/or address women's greater participation in Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In each country report there is an assessment ofthe substantivve formulation of law and its impact on women's political participation. order this publication

From Rhetoric to Reality: Finding the Way Gender Equity and Peacebuilding: A Discussion Paper
Richard Strickland and Nata Duvvury, International Center for Research on Women, 2003
This paper is the product of a review of recent literature on issues of gender in the context of conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. It was prepared as background material for an international workshop on gender equity and peacebuilding jointly convened by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Key findings and research questions are presented in relation to the effective integration of gender concerns into policies and programs that shape post-conflict societies. There has been progress in considering a gender perspective in international thinking, policy statements, and programs related to peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, as evidenced by recent documentation on this topic from the United Nations. Findings reported below indicate a slow but positive shift in international opinion and understanding about the consequences of conflict on women and the importance of their participation in peacebuilding processes and post-conflict social transformation. However, gender discrimination continues through political exclusion, economic marginalization, and sexual violence during and after conflict, denying women their human rights and constraining the potential for development.

Gender, Governance and Conflicts in Africa
Maria Nzomo, Dakar, Senegal, 2002

National Machineries for Women in Development: Experiences, Lessons and Strategies
Prepared for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
Emma Bell with Bridget Byrne, Julie Koch Laier, Sally Baden, and Rachel Marcus, BRIDGE (development - gender), Institute of Development Studies, February 2002

Cidadania das Mulheres e Legislativo Federal: Novas e Antigas Questoes em Fins do Seculo XX No Brazil
Almira Rodrigues, Centro Feminista de Estudios e Assessoria (CFEMEA), Brasilia, Novembr de 2001

Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Stockholm, Sweden
Les Femmes au parlement: Au-delà du nombre [dans un contexte regional]
Mujeres en el Parlamento: Más allá de los números [en un contexto regional]

Letter to the United Nations on Women and Upcoming East Timor Elections
Charles Scheiner, National Coordinator, East Timor Action Network, 1 March 2001
In one of the world’s most remarkable examples of struggle and success, the people of East Timor are at long last moving towards full independence for their country, in partnership with the United Nations. The National Council of East Timor recently approved recommendations for this process, which the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) will shortly decide whether to approve. One Council recommendation with wide support from women’s groups and other elements of East Timorese civil society requires that at least 30 percent of candidates in the upcoming elections be women. We are writing to express our strong support for this recommendation.

Linking Gender Justice and Economic Justice through Democracy
Yvonne Underhill-Sem, DAWN, Pacific Regional Coordinator, Social Watch Assembly, Rome, 27 November 2000

Des Lézardes dans l’Édifice, Perspectives de Critiques Féministes Africaines sur les Femmes et l’Art de Gouverner Viviene Taylor with Anne Mager and Paula Cardosa (Eds.). SADEP/DAWN, Report on the Africa Regional Research Meeting, Cape Town 29-30 November 1999, pub. 2000 partie I | partie II | partie III | partie IV
Cracks in the Edifice: Critical African Feminist Perspectives on Women and Governance
Viviene Taylor with Anne Mager and Paula Cardosa, SADEP/DAWN (Eds.), Report on the Africa Regional Research Meeting on Political Restructuring and Social Transformation, Cape Town 29-30 November 1999, pub. 2000
table of contents | part II | part III

Women and Peacebuilding
Dyan Mazurana and Susan McKay. Montreal: International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, 1999
If progress is to be made towards building more peaceful, cooperative and just societies where human security is valued as paramount, building peace must more deeply involve women and women’s approaches. As documented throughout this essay, women’s roles in, and contributions to, peacebuilding have been underutilized and lacking in recognition at community, national, and international levels. Despite women’s marginalization outside the mainstream peace and international security arenas, their work in peacebuilding is substantial. order this publication

UN Documents

Faces: Women as Partners in Peace and Security: Women Prepare for First Elections
UN Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI) and UN Department of Public Information, October 2004

Enhancing Women's Full Participation in Electoral Processes in Post-Conflict Countries: A Compilation of Selected Resources
Compiled by UN Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI), May 2004

Women's Participation and Leadership: Vital to Democratic Governance
Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Summit on the Americas, Monterrey, Mexico, 13 January 2004

For Iraq, Women Are Key
Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of UNIFEM, International Herald Tribune, 19 April 2003
As Iraqis meet to talk about creating an interim authority to govern their country, they will need to overcome divisive ethnic, religious, tribal and political barriers. Experience elsewhere shows that one sure way to achieve the necessary consensus and compromise is to involve women extensively. Women have the collaborative outlook needed to deal with Iraqi society's complexities and the pragmatic organizing expertise needed to cut through the current chaos.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
States Parties, Articles 4,7,8, 1979
Convention Sur L'Elimination de Toutes les Formes de Discrimination a L'Egard des Femmes
Convencion Sobre la Eliminacion de Todas las Formas de Discriminacion Contra la Mujer

Women and Decision-Making
Division on the Advancement of Women (DAW), Women2000: Women and decision-making, October 1997

Fourth World Conference on Women Platform for Action: Women in Power and Decision-making
The United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China, September 1995

Government Statements and Reports

Putrajaya Declaration and Programme of Action on the Advancement of Women in Member Countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Putrajaya, Malaysia, 10 May 2005
We, the Ministers and other Heads of Delegation from Member Countries of NAM met in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 9-10 May 2005, to discuss issues faced by women in the era of globalization recognize that the participation of women and the integration of their perspectives, in all sectors and at all levels, are essential to their empowerment and to the achievement of gender equality and equity...We commit ourselves to:...Adopt affirmative action policies to increase the proportion of women at the decision-making level, at least a minimum 30 percent in both public and private sector bodies, including the legislatures;...

Handbook for Monitoring Women's Participation in Elections
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Warsaw, Poland, 2004

Afghanistan Elections 2004: Women's Participation
United States Department of State, Office of International Women's Issues, Washington, DC, 1 October 2003

Athens Forum: Gender, Peace and Foreign Policy: the EU Perspective
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece and European Commission, 12 June 2003

House of Lords Address Iraqi Women’s Participation
London, England, 13 May 2003
“My right honourable friend the Minister for Women has met and will continue to meet Iraqi women from a variety of different political and civic groups in this country. A gender expert from the Women and Equality Unit is being seconded to ORHA, and the new UK-funded TV channel in Iraq will shortly begin broadcasting programmes to encourage women to participate in civic and political life in Iraq.”

New Bridges to Peace: Enhancing National and International Security by Expanding Policy Dialogues Among Women
Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, Deputy Minister of Defense, South Africa, WIIS Occasional Paper, Washington D.C., 27-28 April 2001

Égalité entre les sexes et consolidation de la paix: Leçons tirées de l'expérience
Agence Canadienne de Développement Intérnationale
La Politique de l'ACDI en matière d'égalité entre les sexes a pour objectif d'appuyer la réalisation de l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes afin d'assurer un développement durable. Au regard des activités de consolidation de la paix toutefois, il n'est pas toujours facile de saisir la portée concrète de cet objectif. La communauté internationale reconnaît qu'il faut accroître la participation des femmes au règlement des conflits et tenir compte de la problématique homme-femme dans l'ensemble des analyses, politiques et programmes conçus pour venir à bout des conflits et instaurer la paix. Mais, sur le plan individuel, les organismes ne savent pas toujours comment traduire ce consensus international en mesures concrètes. Dans le cadre de son Programme de consolidation de la paix, l'ACDI veut contribuer à l'efficacité des activités dans ce domaine. Pour cela, elle a examiné ses dossiers et tiré des enseignements concrets des projets en cours. Ces fiches techniques consignent les leçons précises que les organismes financés par le Programme de consolidation de la paix ont tirées. Il y est question tant des difficultés à surmonter que des possibilités à explorer.

Books, Journals and Articles

Women and Nation-Building
Cheryl Benard, Seth G. Jones, Olga Oliker, Cathryn Quantic Thurston, Brooke K. Stearns, Kristen Cordell
RAND, 2008
This study examines gender-specific impacts of conflict and post-conflict and the ways in which events in these contexts may affect women differently than they affect men. It analyzes the roles of women in the nation-building process and considers outcomes that might occur if current practices were modified. The recent nation-building activities in Afghanistan are used as a case study.
For free, downloadable full PDF version of this book, please click HERE

Women, Political Decision-Making and Peace-Building
Dr. Elisabeth Porter, Southern Cross University. Global Change, Peace and Security. Vol. 15, No. 3, October 2003

No Place for a Woman
Lesley Abdela, Shevolution/Eyecatcher Associates, The London Times, 29 April 2003

Women and Good Governance
Grace Mera Molisa. Vanuatu: Blackstone Publishing, 2002
order this book

Democracy and Deep-Rooted Conflict: Chapter 4.12: National Machinery for Gender Equality
Ben Reilly. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Stockholm, Sweden

Good Global Governance ... Can the United Nations Deliver?
Dimity Hawkins, given to the United Nations Association of Australia and WILPF SA Branch, Adelaide, Australia, June 18 2002