Gender and Political Development

Pan-Commonwealth Women’s Leadership
As part of our programme to advance the capacity of women leaders in democracy and peace building, we are developing a Leadership Resource Manual for Women Leaders. It will cover a range of issues, with the aim of empowering women at all levels of decision-making, including parliamentarians, ministers and heads of national women’s machineries.

Women seeking leadership roles are likely to encounter various biases.  They need to be well-equipped and prepared to face challenges in their private and professional lives. Through capacity building and leadership training, women are sensitised to overcome cultural barriers and take up leadership positions.  This enables them to participate effectively in decision-making at all levels.

Regional Colloquia on Women Leaders as Agents of Change
The Commonwealth Secretariat has been convening a series of regional colloquia on ‘Women Leaders as Agents of Change’, aimed at promoting dialogue and understanding on issues impacting on women’s effective leadership.

The first was held in the Caribbean region under the auspices of the first female Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago in June 2011. The second colloquium, for the Africa region, was convened in partnership with the Government of Ghana in Accra in March 2012.

The regional colloquia concluded with the Port of Spain and Accra consensus documents for Women’s Transformational Leadership and Gender Equality, which called for:

• A minimum of 30–40 per cent representation of women in parliamentary and local government elections in accordance with global instruments;
• Removal of all barriers that directly or indirectly discriminate against women’s participation and leadership in political party structures;
• Strengthening of national women’s machineries for effective implementation, monitoring and mainstreaming; and
• Strengthening of economic governance to stimulate growth and to support women’s productive capacities and social protection.

International advocacy
UN General Assembly side event: ‘Women’s Political Participation’

The Commonwealth Chair-in-Office Prime Minister Julia Gillard led a high-level meeting with female world leaders as a side event to the 66th UN General Assembly (UNGA) Session in New York on 19 September 2011.  The meeting, entitled ‘Women’s Political Participation’, was convened in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and UN Women.

Dignitaries in attendance included the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, the Head of UN Women, Michele Bachelet, and five female Presidents and Heads of Government.

The resulting Joint Statement, signed by female world leaders, is due to be negotiated for adoption by member states at the 67th UNGA Session.  It aims to further strengthen mechanisms for women’s equitable representation and participation in politics and governance.

Commonwealth Heads of Government side event: ‘Women Empowered to Lead’

The outcomes of the Caribbean regional colloquium and the UNGA side event on Women’s Political Participation informed the special side event on gender equality and women’s empowerment, ‘Women Empowered to Lead’, held in the margins of the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia. The Government of Australia championed the call for Heads of Government to support the adoption of the Joint Statement in New York.