“Women leaders are not just found in the political sphere,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) at the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) 2016 Madeleine K. Albright luncheon earlier this week. “Women are leading anywhere women are, which is everywhere.”

After the third attempt in twenty years to enact reform legislation governing the country's political system, Guatemala’s Congress celebrated a big step forward this past month with the passage of highly-anticipated reforms to the Law on Elections and Political Parties (LEPP). The LEPP reforms approved in April encompass a series of measures focused on improving the country’s political and electoral system, and respond to weaknesses made apparent during the 2011 and 2015 general elections.

During a recent parliamentary exchange program facilitated by NDI, the Ranking Member of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), Rep. David Price (D-NC), opened up to a group of 22 members of parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff from nine countries, sharing that “most Americans are cynical about the integrity of the system. And the reason is because big money talks.” This phenomenon is not unique to the United States.

Majdouline El Amani and Khadouj Slassi were among the 120 women representing eight Moroccan political parties who came together from all corners of Morocco to share successful strategies for increasing the percentage of elected women in parliament and to discuss how women can advocate for greater leadership roles within their political parties.