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Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy

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EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR STRONGER POLITICAL PARTIES –<br />

A GUIDEBOOK TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION<br />

UNDP <strong>and</strong> NDI, February 2012, 120 pages<br />

This publication identifies targeted interventions <strong>for</strong> promoting the stronger presence<br />

<strong>and</strong> influence of women in political parties as well as advancing gender equality<br />

issues in party policies <strong>and</strong> plat<strong>for</strong>ms. The lessons learned <strong>and</strong> common strategies<br />

in this Guide are drawn mainly, but not exclusively, from 20 case studies that were<br />

commissioned by UNDP <strong>and</strong> conducted by NDI during 2009-2010. The entry points<br />

identified are designed to provide ideas <strong>for</strong> action <strong>for</strong> political parties, development<br />

assistance providers, party foundations, <strong>and</strong> CSOs in their work to support parties.<br />

GENDER AND POLITICAL PARTIES – FAR FROM PARITY<br />

International IDEA, June 2011, 90 pages<br />

The election of four female presidents in Latin America in recent years has drawn attention<br />

to women’s political participation <strong>and</strong> their access to political decision-making.<br />

Despite these encouraging results, statistics reveal that the Latin American region<br />

is still far from achieving gender equality in politics. Although women are increasingly<br />

involved in politics, they still have limited access to leadership positions in political<br />

party contexts.<br />

Researchers from 18 countries provided input to the Gender <strong>and</strong> Political <strong>Parties</strong><br />

in Latin America database (www.iadb.org/research/geppal/) based on a survey of 94<br />

political parties. This report presents an analysis of database in<strong>for</strong>mation. The purpose<br />

of the report is to provide comparative data on women <strong>and</strong> men in political parties<br />

to in<strong>for</strong>m on the situation <strong>and</strong> challenges of women’s political participation.<br />

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT: BEYOND NUMBERS<br />

International IDEA, 2005, 264 pages<br />

Little research had been done so far on the way <strong>and</strong> extent to which women Members<br />

of Parliament influence politics. With this H<strong>and</strong>book, the focus shifts from getting<br />

more women elected to the parliament, to giving those elected the means to make a<br />

greater impact on politics. Key findings include:<br />

It is not all about numbers: While a critical mass of women is necessary to ensure<br />

women’s representation, the quality of the representation is just as important. Training<br />

is crucial to avoid the trap of electing “token women”.<br />

Gender perspectives, not gender issues: Women elected to parliament change politics<br />

globally; they introduce a women’s perspective into all areas of political life, they<br />

are not limited to gender issues.<br />

Representation means more than elected politics: It means that more women<br />

must have seats at the Cabinet table, more women must be appointed to senior decision-making<br />

positions, <strong>and</strong> more women’s voices must be heard <strong>and</strong> included when<br />

major political re<strong>for</strong>m or trans<strong>for</strong>mation is undertaken.<br />

The h<strong>and</strong>book includes case studies from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Ecuador,<br />

France, Indonesia, Rw<strong>and</strong>a, South Africa <strong>and</strong> Sweden, as well as regional overviews<br />

from the Arab World, Latin America, South Asia <strong>and</strong> a case study on the Inter-Parliamentary<br />

Union (IPU).<br />

HANDBOOK FOR MONITORING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS<br />

OSCE, 2004, 54 pages<br />

This h<strong>and</strong>book provides guidance on monitoring women’s participation in the electoral<br />

process. The h<strong>and</strong>book was designed as a working tool to assist ODIHR election<br />

WOMEN IN POLITICS DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DEMOCRACY PAGE 59

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