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Research shows that when more women are in positions of leadership, society as a whole benefits. For the last six months, WFD has been working closely with the Gambian Parliament’s select committee on gender to get women’s political representation on the national agenda. By working with the committee members on a range of areas such as gender-sensitive budgeting, committee members enhanced their ability to promote legal reforms that will see more women in elected leadership positions.
“Change is the end result of all true learning.” ― Leo Buscaglia
The primary reason for the establishment of the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) was to tackle the increasing level of violence against persons in all its forms, including GBV. As such, the Ondo State VAPP law, which was passed in July 2021, is a vital instrument for the agency to fulfil this objective. While the VAPP law has numerous provisions to protect all persons, regardless of gender, the greatest beneficiaries are women and children as they are often the targets of, not just GBV but, all forms of violence, including political violence.
The primary reason for the establishment of the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) was to tackle the increasing level of violence against persons in all its forms, including GBV. As such, the Ondo State VAPP law, which was passed in July 2021, is a vital instrument for the agency to fulfil this objective. While the VAPP law has numerous provisions to protect all persons, regardless of gender, the greatest beneficiaries are women and children as they are often the targets of, not just GBV but, all forms of violence, including political violence.
WFD works with local partners to promote women's political leadership worldwide. WFD is focused on creating an inclusive and supportive environment in the ASEAN region that enables politically active women to participate in and assume leadership roles in national, local, and regional politics.
It is important that we ask about women's rights and needs and girls rights and needs in the same breath, argues WFD's Magdalena Randall-Schab. Doing so will help us strengthen the leadership of women and girls.
The violence against persons prohibition VAPP Law in Nigeria provides a legal framework for the protection of all citizens – including vulnerable people such as women, girls, children, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). To ensure grassroots stakeholders have good knowledge and understanding of the content of the Ondo State VAPP Law, WFD partnered with the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) and the office of the first Lady of Ondo state to conduct community sensitisation.
On International Women's Day 2022, WFD launched a 12-month-long project aimed to advance women's political participation and leadership in the Moroccan House of Representatives. One year down the line – as we celebrate International Women’s Day in 2023 – we look at the outcomes achieved through this Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) supported programme.
It is our responsibility to reimagine the political system designed around men and gendered ideas of leadership, argues WFD's Cecillia Makonyola. If we cannot imagine it, we will never have a system that values women’s labour in all its forms. Beginning on International Women’s Day, let's reimagine politics as it should be; the work of women.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the American University of Armenia (AUA) Energy Transitions for Climate Solutions Initiative (Energy4Climate) recently organized a roundtable discussion on Armenia's energy security. The programme aimed at creating a dialogue to examine the potential of enhancing Armenia’s energy security through national policies and strategies.
The shrinking space for women, young people, and persons with disabilities in the political process requires continuous engagement with various stakeholders on the importance of inclusive governance. To support this engagement, WFD recently implemented activities in Nigeria reinforcing the use of the new media to promote inclusion.
Democracies need everyone to be represented in decision-making. We all lose out if women are left out. We need more women’s leadership. WFD programmes and research around the world have demonstrated what stands in the way of women’s leadership and the benefits it brings. We have also learned how we can support it.
The Scottish National Party WFD programme continued to promote women's political leadership in Southern Africa by hosting a three-day conference for Malawian women parliamentarians to share experience, knowledge, and ideas.
We will not be able to respond to every threat to democracy but acknowledging that different approaches are needed can help to make the global change we want to see.
WFD launched a new programme which aims to increase the engagement of the Armenian National Assembly and political parties in climate change and energy policy.
General elections in Sierra Leone will be held mid-2023. However, there still exists deep gender imbalances in the country’s political context. From prejudices against women’s leadership to political and traditional barriers that continue to threaten women’s political participation and inclusion.
If election management bodies do not have a plan for effective, multi-year strategic communications, credible election processes risk being undermined by disinformation.
