Policy Brief
Combating Gender-Based Violence
Widespread gender-based violence is common during and after armed conflict. Often, this pattern corresponds to a deficiency in the institutional mechanisms and rule of law meant to prevent and punish such crimes. Because women legislators frequently spearhead efforts to address gender-based violence, increasing their roles in government can be instrumental to combating the problem. Part […]
Policy Brief
Increasing Women’s Participation in Local Government
Devolving authority from central to local authorities can enhance government’s legitimacy and increase its accountability to citizens. Moreover, the process of decentralization can facilitate the democratic participation of groups that are frequently marginalized within formal governing structures. Women are one such group, and their policy priorities often include the issues that affect their families’ daily […]
Policy Brief
Promoting Male-Female Collaboration in Legislatures
Women are capturing an increasing share of seats in post-conflict legislatures around the world. Evidence indicates that they are vital to ensuring that countries make necessary social investments in children’s and women’s rights, health care, and education; however, these lawmakers are more likely to succeed when they collaborate with male counterparts and when issues are […]
Policy Brief
Designing Programs to Increase Women’s Participation in Local Government
Devolving authority from central to local government offers a critical opportunity to ensure wider representation and improve post-conflict democracy. When elected, female officials in particular can enhance the legitimacy of local government, improve service delivery, and facilitate communication with the local population. Yet too often women are not given the information, training, and support necessary […]
Policy Brief
Fostering Citizen Participation in the Development of Legislation
Participatory processes are critical to improving governance in post-conflict countries. Involving the public in creating legislation increases a government’s legitimacy and the likelihood that nascent democracies remain stable and continue to develop. Yet post-conflict societies, especially those unaccustomed to democracy, require extra support to open legislative and other policymaking processes. Part of a series that […]
Policy Brief
Advancing Women in Legislatures
Caucuses are important for bringing together legislators outside the confines of political parties. Women’s caucuses are particularly useful for strengthening the voice of an under-heard constituency, increasing the confidence of female legislators (who often have less experience than their male counterparts), and providing a vehicle for mentoring new policymakers. Part of a series that builds […]
Policy Brief
Promoting Children’s Welfare: Legislative Strategies
Children are often the segment of the population most affected by poverty, food insecurity, and the lack of health and social services that characterize post-conflict countries. Women’s leadership, however, can improve children’s lives. When women achieve a critical mass in legislatures and local government, they prioritize investment in children’s welfare. Part of a series that […]
Press
Women Take Lead Toward Mideast Peace
This article was originally published by Common Ground News Service. While it’s encouraging that two women—Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni—were key players in the Annapolis conference last week, the fact that women are central in the negotiations will only have an impact if the subsequent talks are structured to […]
Press
Darfur Negotiations
This article was originally published by The Washington Times. Negotiations around Darfur get underway this week. To succeed mediators must build on past successes and learn from past mistakes. Otherwise, Sudan will risk a return to broader conflict. A few key lessons should guide the way that the United Nations and African Union handle the […]
Press
Inclusive Peacemaking
This article was originally published by The New York Times. Last month in Sudan I worked with Darfuri women leaders to prepare for peace negotiations set to take place in Libya later this month. They defined priorities and next steps, and committed to continued collaboration and communication. Although they represented a wide variety of ethnicities […]
