Gender, Women and Democracy

May 27, 2022

NDI Champions “Democracy Game Changers” for S4D Year of Action

Fight for freedom. Future of the global order. Existential struggle.

It’s hard to find terms that describe the crisis in Ukraine without sounding like so much cable news hyperbole. And yet, Russia’s illegal invasion of a free and sovereign Ukraine is existential for the Ukrainian people: their sovereignty, freedoms and way of life are on the line.

April 18, 2022

Increasing Political Inclusivity in Latin America

Full and meaningful inclusion is a core democratic value. This is why NDI is working in Latin America to increase the political participation of underrepresented populations including Afro-Descendants, women and youth. Here’s how:

Inclusive Political Parties

April 13, 2022

Global Partnership to End Online Violence Against Women Presents Opportunities for Tech and Government to step up

This March, nations of the world joined together to launch the “Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse,” including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, and the Republic of Korea, to work together to address technology-facilitated gender-based violence. The initiative, a commitment made in the Year of Action of the Summit for Democ

Examining State-Based Disinformation Campaigns During Times of Crises

NDI’s Gender, Women and Democracy team, in partnership with Charitable Analytics International (CAI), conducted a study in Brazil and Lebanon to research state-based gendered disinformation campaigns during times of large shocks like pandemics, natural disasters and conflict/violence. In the unstable information space that comes after shocks, opportunities for mis- and disinformation explode. Governments and their networks can take advantage of the chaos to manipulate public sentiment and distort facts and events to push their own political agenda.

Read more about Examining State-Based Disinformation Campaigns During Times of Crises

March 30, 2022

NDI’s Libyan Women of Courage

In honor of Women’s History Month, NDI-Libya is proud to present profiles of Libyan women who have made an impact in NDI-Libya’s programs and their respective communities. These women have demonstrated exceptional courage in their plight for peace, equality, and human rights – often risking their lives and making tremendous sacrifices. These eight women are recognized for their powerful roles in Libya’s transition toward reconciliation and stability

March 9, 2022

Kosovo’s Democracy Demands Gender Equality

On this International Women’s Day, let us all stand in solidarity with Ukraine and recommit ourselves to building strong inclusive democracies and the values of peace and justice they embody.

Violence Against Women in Politics in Southeastern Europe

Gender equality is central to EU membership (Romania) and accession treaties (Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia). Nonetheless, women in political life in SEE face many obstacles, including gender-based discrimination and stifling traditional gender roles. Women are politically underrepresented in all SEE countries, and in all decision-making bodies. Women from ethnic minority groups as well as LGBTQI+ communities face further marginalization and exclusion.

Kosovo's 2021 Local Elections: Analysis of Inclusion and Information Integrity

On October 17, 2021, Kosovo’s voters went to the polls for the fourth local election in 13 years since independence in 2008. The vote elected the mayors and members of assemblies in 38 municipalities, with the post of mayor changing parties in thirteen municipalities. The Self Determination Movement (LVV) did not capitalize on its support gained in the parliamentary elections in February 2021. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won the most mayoral posts and seats in the local assemblies, reversing their decline seen in the February elections.

Ending Online Violence Against Women in Politics

NDI believes all people have the right to live in a world that respects their dignity, security, and political rights—and the digital world is no exception. A critical investment to advance democracy is to create an internet that enables all people to be politically engaged. This is why, for years, NDI has worked to address the gendered attacks, including disinformation, faced by 50 percent of the world’s population when attempting to engage online.

Read more about Ending Online Violence Against Women in Politics

Pride, a Litmus Test For Democracy

Around 70 countries in the world still criminalize same-sex relationships. In 11 of these countries, there is evidence of the death penalty occuring or being ‘allowed” for same-sex relationships. A quarter of the world’s population believes that being LGBTQI+ should be a crime.