Gender, Women and Democracy

Pakistan: Win With Women National Action Plan

The representatives of PPP, PML-N, PML-Q, ANP and MQM, reaffirm their commitment to strengthen women’s participation in political parties through this National Action Plan.

National Action Plan to Boost Women’s Power in Pakistani Political Parties

More than 90 representatives of women’s wings from five major political parties developed and endorsed a National Action Plan to strengthen their women’s wings and boost their representation on party decision-making bodies.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu Addresses (Video) the 2008 Democracy Awards Focusing on Struggle for Democracy in Burma

Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Women’s League of Burma were honored by NDI on Dec. 15. Archbishop Tutu received the 18th W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award for his work since the democratic transition in South Africa, which includes his advocacy for democracy in many troubled nations, including Burma. The Women’s League received the 4th annual Madeleine K. Albright Grant, named for NDI’s chairman, for its work promoting human rights and more participation by women in Burma’s democracy movement.

Jordan: Women Helping Women: Jordanian Women's Election Network

New NDI Publication Evaluates Strategies for Women's Participation in Political Parties

Advancement within political parties – which are the gateway to political leadership – remains both essential to women’s political success and the most difficult political door for women to enter. In an effort to better understand effective approaches to women’s political party programs and to measure the impact of such programs, a new NDI publication -- Assessing Women’s Political Party Programs: Best Practices and Recommendations -- identifies specific effective elements and approaches that encourage women’s participation and leadership in political parties.

Assessing Women’s Political Party Programs: Best Practices and Recommendations

NDI embarked on this assessment in an effort to better understand effective approaches to women’s political party programs across a number of regions and to measure the impact of such programs. The assessment is designed to identify the specific elements and approaches which were most effective in encouraging women’s participation and leadership in political parties. Although drawn from NDI programs, the information gathered in this assessment is intended to be used by both individuals and organizations as a road map to help facilitate women’s political leadership worldwide.

International Leaders Forum: Women Leaders Discuss Serving in the Executive Branch

While women have made significant gains increasing their participation in legislatures, political parties and civil society across the world, women are still severely underrepresented in the executive branch. In an effort to explore this problem, NDI, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held a meeting of current and former women executive office-holders to discuss the unique challenges faced by women in such positions and to explore the kind of assistance needed to support them.

Latin America: Building Links and Increasing the Effectiveness of Women Legislators

Throughout Latin America, social pressures and discriminatory party practices continue to keep many women out of the political arena and to systematically limit their leadership roles. Progress continues, however, as witnessed in recent elections in Latin America in which increased numbers of women won legislative posts and high-profile positions.

Middle East and North Africa: Training Future Political Leaders at the Young Women Leaders Academy

Despite daunting cultural and institutional obstacles, women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) continue to make strides in politics. Initiatives that help empower the next generation of women leaders are a cornerstone of NDI’s programs in the region.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Women's League of Burma to Be Honored at NDI Democracy Luncheon Dec. 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kathy Gest, 202-728-5535, or
Amy Dudley, 202-728-5541

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Democratic Institute (NDI) will honor two champions of democracy – Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) – at its Democracy Awards Luncheon on Dec. 15. NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright will host the event. Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international correspondent, will serve as master of ceremonies. The gathering will be held from 12-2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.