Democracy

Democracy

Active political participation for all citizens of a state is the core value of democracy. Gender democracy needs to become a component within the process of democratization in conflict areas as well as in gender-hierarchical organisational structures or cultures. The Heinrich Böll Foundation is using very different approaches to achieve political participation of women.

Recent Articles

woman with child in kabul

Advocacy Paper

The Challenge of Becoming Invisible:Understanding Women’s Security in Kabul

- Although the overthrow of the Taliban opened up new opportunities for women, it did not give rise to the “women’s liberation” many were expecting. Currently, there are growing concerns about an “apparent backlash against the empowerment of women and their participation in public life.” The current situation in Afghanistan demonstrates that while conflict and its aftermath can shake up gender roles, rapid social change can also provoke “a retreat to conservative notions of masculinity and femininity.” more»
Men to Men Strategy Toolkit

Africa

Men to Men Strategy Toolkit: For Working with Men to Combat Gender Based Violence

- The Toolkit shares information, tools, activities, and skills building ideas and methods to support organisations and individuals to better understand the needs of working with men to address sexual and gender based violence and the spread of HIV in collaboration with women’s rights organisations in Africa. The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) more»

Europe/North America

South Caucasus

Gender in Scholarship Papers

- Presented material is a collection of works on gender issues prepared by scholars of the South Caucasus Regional Office the Heinrich Boell Foundation's Scholarship Program. The presented studies belong to the young scientists involved in the social sciences in the South Caucasus region, who were at different times the scholars of the Foundation.  more»

Middle East

Screenshot Paper

Paper

A decade of regional feminist activism

- In the early 2000, the Collective for Research and Training on Development – Action, CRTD.A, and its network of feminist allies in the Arab region identified the denial of Arab women’s right to nationality to be a resilient form of state driven discrimination against women. How this reality changed during the last decade and what are the needed actions?   CRTD.A more»

Middle East

Women, Revolution, Politics and Power

- During the Arab uprisings, an unprecedented number of women took to the streets, paving the way for a more important role in politics. However, in the transitional period that follows, they now have to fight against their exclusion from the political arena. Dalal al-Bizri more»

Palestine

Gender Kicks in Ramallah

-  “Gender Kicks 2011” offers the perfect opportunity to put gender issues on the public agenda, through culture, sports and politics. On 26 June 2011 the series of events will be opened with a kick-off panel that will gather female soccer players, trainers and representatives of female Palestinian football initiative. more»

Middle East

In the Wake of Arab Revolts: Women’s Rights in the Balance - Interview with Hanan Abdel Rahman-Rabbani

- The Open Society Foundations’ Senior Program Officer on Women’s Rights in the Arab regional office in Amman in an interview on the role of women in the arab revolutions, their issues and needs, their ability to position themselves in the decision-making process, their main concerns and about fears and the role of islamists. Layla Al-Zubaidi and Hanan Abdel Rahman-Rabbani more»

Asia

Team of the Girls' Football Academy

Lebanon

Rabia’s Free Kick

- Tradition and Emancipation are two important poles influencing the societal acceptance of women's soccer in Lebanon. In this article, the author examines this influence through a number of interviews, observations and narratives. Florian Sonntag more»

Afghanistan

Women’s Perceptions of the Afghan National Police

- The security needs of Afghan men and women differ. Whereas men bear the brunt of the direct impacts of conflict, women disproportionately suffer from the indirect effects such as increased levels of domestic violence, decreased access to health care and poverty. Due to this difference in security needs, gender must be taken into account when evaluating the relationship between citizens and the Afghan National Police (ANP). more»

Pakistan

Report - Gendered Perceptions and Impact of Terrorism / Talibanization in Pakistan

- Dr Farzana Bari in collaboration with Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung carried out a research on  Gendered Perceptions and Impact of Terrorism/ Talibanization  in Pakistan. She points out that although radicalization of society has been going on since 1980s but the proportion of the political violence and brutality which is currently evident in suicide bombings  is a new phenomena. more»

Pakistan

Radicalization of State and Society in Pakistan

- Given the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan in depth analysis on the phenomena referred to as ‘radicalization’ or ‘Talibanization’ is becoming increasingly urgent. This piece is an excerpt of the book of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Head Office “Pakistan: Reality, denial and the complexity of its state”.   By Rubina Saigol more»

Cambodia - Video

Women in local Governance

- Women´s political role in Cambodia is hampered by gender based discrimination, but woman have much to say about local political issues. See a series of interviews filmed at a workshop in Kratie province in December 2008.  more»

Africa

Kenya

Role of Political Parties in Promoting Gender Equality in Leadership

- Taking cognisance of the crucial role of political parties in the electoral process, the forum sought to ascertain the position of political parties on the controversy surrounding the timelines for the implementation of the gender two-thirds rule enshrined in Article 81 b) of the Constitution. It also sought to interrogate party initiatives to bridge the gender gap in political participation, challenges and untapped potential relating to women’s political participation in Kenya. Irene Ekonga more»
MI-Omawumi

Nigeria

Violence Against Women Album

- Apart from being rich, famous, widely successful and being recipients of numerous national and international awards, what could Omawumi, M.I Abaga, Waje and ElDee have in common? Well, we found out when the four of them came together to sing on one album and lend their voices to the cause of ending violence against women.
more»

Southern Africa

Closing the Gender Equality Gap in Southern Africa

- One major issue that should be at the heart of the sustainable development discussions, but often receives little attention, is the question of social equity and gender equality. Attention to gender has grown in the sustainable development discourse. However, vast social and economic inequities still remain.  Kulthoum Omari more»
Panelists at the Gender Forum (Photo by Hannington Agesa)

Kenya

Women and Political Leadership: Numbers and Beyond

- As Kenyan women push for a mechanism to actualize the two thirds provision, it is important to think not just about the quantity but also the quality of their leadership. In this regard, we ask:-What is the agenda that women are bringing into leadership?; Is it an agenda that can translate into a change in women’s lived realities?; and what is the connection between women’s access to leadership, having a sound agenda and remaining accountable to the women constituency?  more»

South Africa

Challenges to Mainstreaming Gender in Legislation and Governance

- May 14, 2010 - May 14, 2010 - In an attempt to stimulate dialogue, together with the Gender Advocacy Programme, the Commission for Gender Equality and the Heinrich Boll Stiftung hosted an event on “Challenges to Mainstreaming Gender in Legislation and Governance: Comparative Perspectives" in Cape Town on the 3rd February 2010. The roundtable brought together public representatives, civil society organisations and academics.  more»
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football team holding banner with text: we play for gender equaltiy

Nigeria

Gender Equality in Nigeria Football

- “We Play for Gender Equality” was the slogan for the recent Media Roundtable on Female Football in Nigeria organized by the Foundation with Search & Groom. The event was put together in commemoration of 100 years of International Women’s Day. In the preambles of a paper presentation”..when we describe the game as beautiful, we see the future as feminine and for those who know the link, if you conclude that football is a woman, you will not be wrong"  Aisha Falode reflects on Nigeria football with gender lenses more»
Torera - Women in bull-fight arena and in costume swinging red cloth

South Africa

Conversation: Gender Policy in South Africa

- Seeking insights into how southern African feminists think about the situation, feminist, author and journalist Christi van der Westhuizen discusses the possibilities for feminist action in South Africa today with Claire Mathonsi, who until recently was the director of operations at the Western Cape Network on Violence Against Women. more»
Women´s Voices - Women´s Choices - 100 years International Women’s Day
Michael Kimmel: The Guy´s Guide to Feminism
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Knowledge Box
  • Urgent Responses For Women Human Rights Defenders At Risk: Mapping And Preliminary Assessment
    Publication by AWID and the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition more»