Gender, democracy, peace and conflict
Commonwealth believes that women and men must work together to build a better world.
Women Influencing and Changing the Agenda
The challenge now is to push beyond numbers and demonstrate the impact of women's contribution to democracy, peace and conflict in member countries; promote accountability for international legal frameworks that governments have ratified; domesticate international standards in national constitutions and legislations as tools for promoting de facto equality; encourage political parties to adopt the 30% Commonwealth target for women candidates; and ensure women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution, peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction processes. In line with the Commonwealth's comparative advantage, there is need to develop peace education curricula and promote a culture of peace, geared particularly towards young people, to ensure sustainability.
The Focus
Consequently, Commonwealth activities in this critical area will focus on:
i. Strengthening democratic political systems through achievement of the Commonwealth target of at least 30% of women in decision-making in the political, public and private sectors;
ii. Mainstreaming gender equality into early warning mechanisms, conflict prevention and resolution, peace agreements, peace-building, reconciliation, post-conflict reconstruction, and disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration processes;
iii.Ensuring the collection of sex-disaggregated data and integrating gender analysis into policy-making, planning and programme implementation in conflict and post-conflict situations; and
iv.Documenting and disseminating good practice in gender-sensitive initiatives in the area of democracy, peace and conflict.
How far have Commonwealth women progressed?
The Commonwealth Secretary General's 2003 Report shows that, despite considerable regional variations, Commonwealth countries continue to report an increase in women's representation at the highest level of decision-making, especially at the political level.
National Parliaments
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union the proportion of women in politics has increased from 12.8 per cent in 1999 to 15.2 per cent in 2003.
Analysis of Commonwealth National Parliaments/Assemblies shows that since 1999, 24 countries have recorded an increase in female parliamentary representation, with St Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana recording the largest increases, from 17.7 per cent and 16.7 per cent respectively; Lesotho by 7.9 per cent from 3:80 in 1999 to 14:120 in 2003. However, fifteen countries also recorded a reduction from 0.1 per cent (UK) to 8.8 per cent (Bangladesh). Canada continues to increase the ratio of women in decision-making posts at all levels: 20.9% in the House of Commons; 34.7% in the Senate; 25.8% of federally appointed judges; 20.2% of Members of Provincial/Territorial Legislatures; 20.7% of Federal Deputy Ministers (Source: Women and Men in Canada, 2003)
Comparative Rates of Female Representation in Political Decision-Making in Commonwealth National Parliaments/Assemblies, 1999-2004 - Download PDF
Local Government
Five countries, Canada, India, Seychelles, Tanzania and Uganda, have met the 30 per cent target of women in local government. Seychelles stands out, having achieved 58 per cent women's representation at local government since the last elections in 1997. Seychelles also has high levels of women's representation at other levels of decision-making: Parliament (24 per cent), Cabinet (24 per cent), public sector management (37 per cent) and private sector management (27 per cent). Two of South Africa's Provincial Legislatures achieved the 30 per cent target: Gauteng (31.4 per cent) and North-West Province (33.3 per cent). Only seven Commonwealth countries reported attaining 20 per cent of female representation at Cabinet level.
See the Commonwealth Local Government Forum document: "Promoting Democratic Values and Good Governance in the Commonwealth"
Public Sector
Five regional meetings on 'Engendering Local Government' and 'Gender, Politics and Peace' were held in the African, Asian/European and Caribbean regions. They explored ways of building a woman-friendly political environment through the local government and parliamentary systems.
Participants from the two series of meetings identified a number of challenges to women's equal participation in political decision-making in their countries and regions.
A 1999 publication "Women in Politics: Voices from the Commonwealth" profiles 33 women in politics from 11 Commonwealth countries and focuses on the challenges and barriers they face, and the different strategies they adopt for their entry and success in politics.
Many governments, organisations and groups including political parties have recognised the need to actively address the participation of women in political decision-making. A number of strategies, programmes and activities are being put into place within the Commonwealth.
Private Sector
Business women in the Commonwealth as elsewhere are making a difference and have become a major contributing factor to development and global trade. In South East Asia, women make up between 9 and 48 per cent of employers and between 20 to 48 per cent self employed. In Canada and Australia, women are responsible for as much as 50 per cent of new businesses.
EXPLORE Gender, democracy, peace and conflict
Meeting documents, New York
Commonwealth Meetings on the eve of the 52nd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 23 and 24 February 2008, New York
Latest Documents
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Contact Information
Gender Section
Social Transformation Programmes Division
Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House, Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX, United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 207 747 6459
Fax: +44 207 930 1647 / +44 207 747 6287
Email : gad@commonwealth.int