II. Background
The United Nations has, through the International Conferences on
Women in Mexico (1975), in Copenhagen (1980), in Nairobi
(1985), in Beijing
(1995) and the twenty-third
special session of the General Assembly - Beijing +5 (2000)
called for greater support for participation of women in all aspects
of the electoral process and in power and decision-making positions.
The Beijing Platform for Action affirms that "women have the equal
right to participate in governance and that the empowerment, autonomy
and full citizenship of women are essential for their advancement
in other spheres of life and for the more transparent and accountable
governance" (para 181).
Regional organizations, such as the Organization of Security Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), the Council
of Europe and the African Union, for example, also support governments
and civil society groups in electoral processes including the monitoring
of elections.
Inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations also play
an important role in supporting sustainable democracies in areas
such as political participation, election administration and post-conflict
democracy building. Some of the institutions promoting women's participation
in electoral processes are: The International Institute for Democracy
and Electoral Assistance (IDEA),
the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),
the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI),
the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES),
and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in
Africa (CODESRIA) and other
regional groups, Carter Centre, the Centre for Development and Populations
Activities (CEDPA), International
Centre for Research on Women (ICRW)
and Vital Voices.
The UN and NGOs have supported the participation of women in electoral
processes from voter registration to running for office in post
conflict and stable countries. What have been the lessons learned
in supporting women and other under-represented groups in elections
processes? How has this support enabled women to play active roles
in elections? What concrete actions can be taken to more consistently
assist, support and advocate for women's full participation not
only as voters but also in increasing the number of women in elected
positions? Is there a difference in the way various UN and NGO actors
contribute to women's participation in electoral processes in post-conflict
countries versus stable countries?
III. Objectives
The objectives of the meeting are to review what has been done
to support women in all aspects of the electoral process in post-conflict
countries and to develop an agenda for action on how to strengthen
support to the full participation of women in electoral processes
in post-conflict countries.
Specifically the meeting will:
- Analyse what has been the support
provided to post-conflict countries by interlocutors in support
of women's participation in all aspects of electoral assistance
- what has worked and what has not worked.
- Identify what lessons have been learned from countries not in conflict regarding promotion
on women's participation in election processes and determine if
these lessons can be used in post-conflict countries.
- Determine the gaps in our knowledge concerning women's participation in electoral
processes in post-conflict countries and suggest practical research
topics to improve our knowledge base.
Possible themes to discuss regarding women's participation are:
- Gender-sensitive legislation governing electoral assistance
- Voter registration
- Voter education
- Special measures
- Working with political parties
- Identifying and training women candidates
- Observing elections
- Role of the media in elections
The aim would be to describe what we know works,
what are the gaps and how the various actors - UN, governmental,
intergovernmental, non-governmental - can spell out what they can
do to further support women in all aspects of electoral assistance
programmes in post-conflict countries.
IV. Expected outcome
The outcome of the meeting will be a report containing a summary
of the discussion and recommendations addressed to different actors
and different levels on how to further promote the full participation
of women in electoral processes. An agenda for action on how to
better support women's full participation in elections in post-conflict
countries will be detailed. The report on the meeting will provide
inputs to the consideration of "women's equal participation in conflict
prevention, management and conflict resolution and in post-conflict
peace-building" be the Commission on the Status of Women at its
forty-eighth session. The meeting would also contribute to the finalization
of the Information Notes on Women in Electoral Processes currently
under development by DPA-EAD.
V. Methods of work
The meeting will work in plenary sessions and in smaller working
groups based on the case studies and themes identified.
VI. Profile of participants
The meeting would bring together 8-10 experts on electoral assistance,
including those specifically with experience in enhancing the role
of women in electoral processes. Participants would be drawn from
the United Nations, government electoral commissions and non-governmental
organizations along with field-based actors involved in supporting
women's participation in elections in post-conflict countries supported
by the UN.
VII. Documentation
The documentation for the meeting will be a background paper outlining
the major issues to be discussed and papers prepared by experts
either on country-specific or thematic issues. Observers will be
invited to contribute inputs from their own perspectives. The meeting
will be held in English only and the documentation will be available
English only.
VIII. Time and Place
The meeting will take place in Glen Cove, New York from 20-22 January
2004.
Contact person
Kate Burns
Senior Social Affairs Officer
Women, Peace and Security
OSAGI/DESA
DC2 - 1206
United Nations
New York, New York 10017
E:mail: burns2@un.org
Tel: 917 367 5221