Girls and women have a right to engage in civil society, vote in elections, be elected to government office, serve on boards, and make their voices heard in any process that will ultimately affect them, their families, and their communities. 

Despite both their ability and their right to participate in democratic governance, women’s leadership and political participation is restricted and they are underrepresented as voters, in elected office, in the private sector, academia and other pivotal positions. The under-representation of women’s voices in decision-making and agenda-setting at all levels mean that their interests tend to be under-represented and their skills, experience, and knowledge under-utilized. 

Women’s presence in significant numbers in elected bodies and in economic institutions can result in more equitable policy outcomes because it is likely to encourage policy makers to give more attention to issues affecting women, such as equal pay, better conditions of employment, childcare, violence against women, and unpaid labour.[1]

The Inter-Parliamentary Union report, Equality in politics: A survey of men and women in parliaments demonstrated that women demonstrate political leadership by working across party lines through parliamentary women’s caucuses—even in the most politically combative environments—and by championing issues of gender equality, such as the elimination of gender-based violence, parental leave and childcare, pensions, gender-equality laws, and electoral reform.

Women face several obstacles and structural barriers to participating in political life including cultural expectations and social norms, exclusion from male-dominated decision-making platforms, lack of financial resources, restricted access to information and knowledge, discrimination and widespread violence.

Political and electoral participation of women is not only restricted to representation in decision-making institutions, since women can also exercise their participation rights during elections in different capacities, including as voters, candidates, elected officials, electoral administrators, observers and civil society representatives, among others.

Through our work, Born Equal advocates for the elimination of structures that prevent women and girls in decision making processes and support the delivery programs that build the capacity of women and girls empowering them to step into other wise inaccessible arenas where their voices, experiences and insight can make a valuable contribution.

[1] Women’s Environment & Development Organisation (WEDO), www.wedo.org