Political Context and Environment Politics 101

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Political Context and Environment Politics 101
The National Democratic Institute
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Introductions/Ground rules

• Introductions
• Ground Rules
• Ice Breaker Exercise

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Objective

• To understand the political context and
  opportunities for women within this environment

Photo Amy Hamelin , NDI
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Political Context Topics

• Political actors and institutions
• Status of women in politics
• Access points and opportunities for women in
  politics

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POLITICAL ACTORS

• Media
• Private sector
• Government
• Political parties
• Civil society and international NGOs
• Academia
• Institutions

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MEDIA

• Freedom of the press?
• Diversity and types of media
• Ethics and gender-sensitivity

Photo National Democratic Institute
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MEDIA

• Reports political developments
• Covers elections and candidates
• Opinion-editorials can influence public
• Informs the public

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GOVERNMENT

• Daily administration of the state
• Provide basic services to citizens
• Implement policies of party/platform

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POLITICAL PARTIES AND COALITIONS

• Competing in elections to gain influence
• Aggregating and representing social interests
• Providing a structure for political participation
• Providing policy
• alternatives
• Training political
• leaders

Photo National Democratic Institute
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WOMEN IN POLITICAL PARTIES

• Importance of women as party members and leaders
• Benefits to the party
• Womens wings

Photo Amy Hamelin, NDI
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CIVIL SOCIETY

• Advocacy
• Citizen participation
• Bridge between the public and government
• Government monitoring
• Voter and civic education
• Service provision

Photo National Democratic Institute
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WOMEN IN CIVIL SOCIETY
Women as agents of change
Photo NDI
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OTHER POLITICAL ACTORS

• Private sector
• Academia
• Religious leaders
• Regional/international
• organizations
• Institutions

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WOMEN IN POLITICS

• 1935 Womens political rights recognized
• Advances in parliament From 9 to 14
• 1 parliamentary committee chair
• 1 of 26 ministries headed by a woman
• Men hold 82 of executive positions

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EXERCISE

• Womens political participation identifying
  helping and hindering forces

Image Inter-parliamentary Union
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MINIMUM CONDITIONS FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

• Access to positions of power
• Transparency
• Changing cultural norms
• Womens economic empowerment
• Political will

Photo Amy Hamelin, NDI
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OBSTACLES TO WOMENS POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

• Structural
• Legal
• Economic
• Educational
• Social/cultural/religious
• Time and space
• Physical security
• Lack of confidence

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MOBILIZING WOMEN FOR CHANGE MECHANISMS

• Womens parliamentary caucuses
• Womens wings within political parties
• Civil society organizations
• Cross-sector groups

Photo NDI
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POLITICAL CONTEXT REVIEW

• Roles of political actors
• Status of women in politics
• Access points and opportunities for women in
  politics
• Questions?
• Feedback?