Gender in Europe & CIS

UNDP Regional Report on Women and Governance

The regional  Gender Equality Strategy 2008-2011 (RBEC GES) reiterates that the transition and development processes in the region have had multiple complex impacts on both women and men. The envisaged Regional Report on governance and women’s leadership in the Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (EE & CIS) will address the challenges of transition and development processes in the region that have been occurring without the full participation of women, weakening women’s position in political and socio-economic life. The report will intend to identify and analyze the reasons for women’s low political participation (such as electoral systems, stereotypes, historical legacy etc.) and propose concrete actions to address them.

Importantly, the Regional Report aims to mobilize local stakeholders and partners to collect information and support building of a broader Gender Community of Practice (CoP) consisting of policy makers, academics, NGO activists and UNDP Gender Focal Points in country offices of the region.

Preparation of the Report:  Bratislava Regional Centre will collaborate with six UNDP Country Offices and local experts who will be involved in data gathering and analysis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine. Evidence-based research will be undertaken to further identify the possibilities for programming changes with the potential to increase UNDP results on gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment. National statistical data, reports prepared by NGOs and think tanks, reports of international development institutions and agencies, CEDAW country comments and recommendations, and their implementation will also be analyzed. Based on such research and analysis Issue Papers from six countries will be drafted and presented at the International Stakeholder Conference on Women and Government.

Progress up-to-date

• Desk review for the development of Report has been conducted
• Six roundtables (Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Poland, Ukraine and Bosnia & Herzegovina) were organised.
• Regional consultation – International Conference on Women and Governance in Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent states, Istanbul, Turkey, 1-3 December 2008
• Training on Capacity Building on Gender Mainstreaming into Democratic Governance Practice, Istanbul, Turkey, 3-4 December 2008
• Issue paper presented and reviewed at regional consultation

Roundtables reports

Round table “An Overall Look at Women’s Empowerment Initiatives: Lessons Learned, Opportunities, Challenges,” in Ankara, Turkey 9. 9. 2008 

Roundtable “Women and governance: political participation and female leadership” Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 25.9. 2008

Roundtable “Women and Politics" Warsaw, Poland, 21. October 2008

Roundtable “Political Participation of Women and Women’s Leadership in the Eastern Europe and CIS Region,” Tbilisi, Georgia, 22. October 2008

Roundtable “Women leadership and participation of women in political life of Ukraine,” Kiev, Ukraine, 6. November 2008

Roundtable “Women and governance in Eastern Europe and CIS” Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 11. November 2008

Next steps:

• Draft of Regional Report to be finalized and peer reviewed
• Report to be prepared for publication, launch, dissemination accompanied by advocacy and lobbying for greater women participation in decision making processes

Materials related to the preparation of the Regional Report on Women and Governance

1. Minutes of the UNDP Advisory Group Meeting, Bratislava Regional Centre, June 2008.
2. Concept Note of the Regional Report.
3. Initial Outline of the Regional Report.