Gender-based violence and environmental protection are linked. Transforming gender roles is indispensable for effective environmental democracy – which requires inclusion in decision-making on environmental governance – and better environmental outcomes.
In collaboration with UN Women and the Women's Parliamentary Caucus of the Republic of Indonesia, WFD organised an event to mark the #16Days of activism against gender-based violence at the Indonesian Parliament complex in Jakarta (29/11) where representatives of all political parties in the parliament signed a declaration to condemn violence against women in politics, especially ahead of the upcoming 2024 elections.
Impact assessments of laws after their enactment have become a key tool in the fight against gender-based violence. In a growing number of countries, parliamentarians have taken a leading role in initiating legislation against GBV as well as in monitoring its implementation.
Only a broad alliance, built between parliament, election management bodies, political parties, civil society, media outlets and online platforms, can successfully address violence against women in elections.
Addressing conflict-related violence against women and girls requires intersectional gender and conflict analysis to tackle harmful gender norms, patriarchal culture, and structural inequalities between women and men that predate conflict.
Democracy support actors like WFD need to respond to violence against women in politics as radically as the women who challenge these societal limitations. We need to set a goal of elimination through the transformation of gendered power relations.
After the two years of implementation, the Kenya Inclusive Political Parties (KIPP) programme has registered good buy in and goodwill from its partners. This has led to achievements in the promotion of persons with disability inclusion in Kenyan politics.
WFD hosted a Finnish delegation on a 4-day visit to Kenya informed by the progress and success of the implementation of a disability inclusion programme in the country.
Women in public and political life in Montenegro face sexism, hate speech and threats of violence on a daily basis. This deters women from taking their rightful seats at the decision-making table. To help tackle the problem, WFD organised a campaign with huge reach.
Recently, WFD held a women parliamentarians’ forum in Morocco to advocate for the establishment of a parliamentary working group/committee dedicated to equity and parity.
Parliaments are key institutions whose functions such as debating, legislating, scrutiny, and oversight strengthen democracy. WFD has been helping the Laos National Assembly and Provincial People’s Assemblies (PPAs) to perform core functions of a legislature through providing support in three key areas.
Throughout the week of 17–22 October 2022, the Open Parliament e-Network (OPeN) will host a series of virtual, hybrid, and in-person events worldwide to celebrate the resilience of parliamentary reformers in championing open government values.