Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy

WOMEN’S ORGANISATION UNITS IN PARTIES
While many political parties claim to have institutionalised structures for women in
their party rules and procedures, most of them do not get support from their parties
and they are merely used as a symbolic function as they do not have a clear mandate
or resources for action. In these units, women’s political participation is limited
to support tasks, mobilisation and logistics. A specific mandate of the women’s unit
must be promoted in order to be used as an active arm of the political party, mobilising
women voters and providing logistical support – especially during campaigns.
Two major papers, one by the UN and the other by International IDEA, have set up
the groundwork on what has to be done within political parties in order to make them
more women friendly.
The first one, Empowering Women for Stronger Political Parties, and the second,
Gender and Political Parties: Far from Parity, develop the basic principles at every
stage of political party life to meaningfully include young women. It is a good practice
guide with recommendations. It talks about the internal party organisation and what
to do before, during and after the electoral period.
The women’s units’ role should be promoting gender equality and monitoring
party commitments to gender equality, advising the party on gender policies and educating
party members on the importance of these issues, and organising women politically
from the standpoint of equal rights and opportunities that should be extended
to promote young women and young women’s interests and specific situations.
“A male political culture created
barriers to women’s advancement
towards high positions.”
POLITICAL PARTY STRUCTURE AND YOUNG PEOPLE 12
A report conducted by the NIMD shows how the organisation of political parties is
crucial in integrating young people. In this report Gideon compares the organisation
of political parties in Ghana and Kenya.
He finds out that overall, while all political parties had a youth wing, the political
culture of the Kenyan political parties impedes opportunities for young people as it
was based to a large extent on network patronage. For young people who are less reliant
on networks, it means they have to make their way in the political party outside
the traditional system of party patronage, which makes it very difficult.
Cooperation between young people in the Netherlands and Mali shows how crucial
the commitment of the (older) political establishment is to ensure young people
stand a fair chance in being elected to representative bodies. Sharing experiences,
ideas and best practices was useful in order to pinpoint common gridlocks in getting
actively involved in political parties.
THE JOINT YOUTH AND STUDENTS’ PLATFORM 13
DemoFinland carried out a small-scale study on women’s role in Nepalese youth
politics and in the Joint Youth and Students’ Platform. The Joint Youth and Students’
Platform aims at enhancing young people’s political empowerment and constructive
12 http://www.nimd.org/news/1775/gideon-chitanga-on-youth-participation-in-ghana-and-kenya
13 DemoFinland/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, 2007.
WOMEN IN POLITICS DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DEMOCRACY PAGE 16