Participation

The Participation theme focuses on women’s representation and participation in peace processes, electoral process – as both the candidate and voter – UN decision-making positions, and in the broader social-political sphere.

The Security Council acknowledges the need for strategies to increase women’s participation in all UN missions and appointments to high-level positions in SCR 1325(OP3) and 1889(OP4) and further emphasises the need for women’s participation in peacebuilding processes (1889). 

Specifically, it calls for the mobilisation of resources for advancing gender equality and empowering women (OP14), reporting on the progress of women’s participation in UN missions (OP18), equal access to education for women and girls in post-conflict societies (OP11), and the increase of women’s participation in political and economic decision-making (OP15). Until this language translates into action, the potential for women’s full and equal contribution to international peace and security will remain unrealized.

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KENYA: Give Kenya Women Bigger Role in Political Parties

Women representation in the management of political parties in Kenya is still low regardless of the threshold spelt out by the Constitution, a survey reveals.

GHANA: Political Parties - Tools for Enhancing Women's Participation in Politics

“The goal for more women in politics is not fewer men in politics but a more equitable society.” This is a popular statement of the United Nations Development Programme which clearly reaffirms abhorrence at the international level for the lingering culture of gender disparity in the structures of power at the national and local levels.

RWANDA: The Only Country in the World Where Dominated by Women

Women have made significant advances in politics over the past few decades, with females having served as the head of state in many prominent countries, including Britain, India, Germany, Pakistan, and others.
However, males tend to outnumber females in most parliaments (democratically-elected or otherwise) around the world.

INTERNATIONAL: Women in the 2011 Revolutions: Tawakul Karman

For a long time, negative impressions have dominated world's opinion of women in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Media depictions of women as second-class citizens often deemphasises the root causes of the problem, which include the repressive, dictatorship-led countries of this region who sought to exploit many aspects of society, including religion.

SOUTH EAST ASIA: Setting the Stage: Women PeaceMakers in Cambodia

In early December 2011, IPJ Deputy Director Dee Aker and Program Officer Zahra Ismail were in Cambodia for the third Women PeaceMakers Asia Regional Network summit. The seven-day gathering, organized by IPJ Woman PeaceMaker Thavory Huot, provided opportunities to meet with youth, women farmers, Buddhist and Islamic community groups, as well as NGOs and women in political posts locally and nationally.

KURDISTAN: Position of Women in PJAK's Democratic Confederalism

(Photo Bulent Kilic / AFP/Getty Images)

Would a traditional struggle overwhelmed by sexism and affiliated discriminative tendencies be capable of liberating Kurdistan?

CAMBODIA: Parties Want More Women Candidates in Upcoming Elections

“We women must address issues that women are facing. Therefore, we have to enter into politics."

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