GPECS: Gender Component

Fostering inclusive participation and women’s empowerment

Increasingly, more and more countries are turning towards democratic elections and strengthening their capacity to conduct credible and inclusive elections that conform to international standards. Despite this progress towards democratic elections, by and large women are unequally participating both as voters and as candidates in electoral processes. And despite international efforts to strengthen the conduct of credible and inclusive elections throughout the world, insufficient attention and resources have been devoted to addressing the gap between male and female participation.

Empowering women: Through the GPECS, UNDP includes the cross cutting issues of inclusive participation and empowerment of women and allso looks specifically at post-conflict environments where the constitution, electoral law and other texts are being redrafted, to ensure that the right checks and balances are built in so that women can and do play a stronger role in shaping their political landscape.