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.

For more resources on this Critical Issue, visit PeaceWomen Resource Center >>

HAITI: Haitian Women: Pillars of the Economy, and of Resistance

Faced with enormous debt, poverty, political instability and ongoing violence, Haiti is struggling on multiple fronts. Women, though, are continuing the legacy of resistance and reform that has characterized the country since its founding more than 100 years ago.

INTERNATIONAL: Overcoming Barriers to Better Gender Representation in Politics

Anna-Kaisa Ikonen is Deputy Mayor of the City of Tampere, Finland and a Vice President of the World YWCA. A lifelong YWCA member, she learned how to lead in the movement. Here she outlines strategies to overcome obstacles to women's equal participation in decision-making.

CHILE: First Woman President Scores Points on Gender Front

When Chile elected Michelle Bachelet as its first woman president in 2005, thousands of women celebrated the historic victory as their own personal triumph, proudly marching in the streets wearing mock presidential sashes. Today, men and women both recognise the concrete and symbolic progress achieved in gender issues under her administration.

CENTRAL AMERICA: Women Make Headway in Politics - and Want More

The victory of Laura Chinchilla in Costa Rica's presidential elections, and the growing participation of women in Central American parliaments, point to their progress in the region's spheres of political power. But they still have a long way to go, experts say.

KUWAIT: Woman Elected in Kuwait Says Gender in Politics is 'History'

Rola Dashti is one of four women who won parliamentary seats in the recent elections in Kuwait.As one of the first four female lawmakers ever elected to Kuwait's parliament, Aseel al-Awadhi knows she has a tough road ahead in the conservative Gulf state's male-dominated legislature.

AFGHANISTAN: Bad Security a Hurdle for Female Hopefuls

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Two female contenders for the Afghan presidential elections complain that the deteriorated security situation challenges their campaigns

COLOMBIA: Not Enough Just to Be a Woman

BOGOTÁ, Mar 29, 2010 (IPS) - Noemí Sanín, the presidential candidate of Colombia's Conservative Party, who is running second in the polls, has a few advantages over her main rival, the right-wing Juan Manuel Santos, such as extensive experience in foreign relations and in running programmes for poor families and children.

YEMEN: Kuwaiti Elections and Yemeni Women Quota System

The first time Kuwaiti women ventuered into parlimentarian elections as candidates, they won four seats hands down. Yemeni women have been participating in all sorts of elections as candidates and the number of successful candidates in next to none.

Where did we go wrong?

YEMEN: Women Political Participation Workshop Starts in Sana'a

A training workshop on women's effectual political participation organized by Yemeni Women's Union (YWU) and Club of Madrid for Promoting Democracy in the World started here on Sunday.

The two-day workshop, which comes as an extension for the last meeting held in February 2009, aims to increase the political participation of Yemeni women, Fathiah Mohammed, Deputy Chairwoman of YWU said in her speech.

LEBANON: A Dwindling Show by Women in Lebanese Politics

A seductive woman looks out from the billboards that line Beirut's highways proclaiming, "Be Beautiful and Vote," one political party's appeal to women in this beauty-obsessed nation's upcoming parliamentary elections.

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