Democratic Governance

The participation of women in politics is a human right and a development goal. When women participate in politics, there are benefits for women, men, children, communities and nations.

UNDP strives to ensure that women have a real voice in all governance institutions, from the judiciary to the civil service, as well as in the private sector and civil society, so they can participate equally with men in public dialogue and decision-making and influence the decisions that will determine the future of their families and countries.

Photo by UN/Martine Perret

From the national to the most local levels, UNDP advocates and promotes women's political empowerment at the global, regional, national, and local levels, working to:

• Increase the number of women in public office
• Enhance women’s leadership by helping to reform electoral processes, change political parties, and strengthen parliaments, judiciaries and the civil service
• Strengthen women’s organizations ability to advocate and implement projects that promote women’s rights
• Promote judicial reform to ensure equal legal protection to poor women and men
• Ensure that essential public services like health and education benefit poor women, men, girls and boys equitably
• Promote the ratification, implementation, and reporting on women’s  international and regional women’s instruments such as the CEDAW
• Reduce gender-based violence

Quick Entry Points to Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality in Democratic Governance Clusters

Gender Equality and Justice Programming: Equitable Access to Justice for Women

Electoral Financing to Advance Women's Political Participation: A Guide for UNDP Support

Gender Responsive E-governance: Exploring the Transformative Potential

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