The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) established that women have as equal a right as men to participate in the development of their local communities, as elected representatives or in advisory capacities when various agencies take decisions. We have seen some progress in this area in the last decades, but women continue to participate at far lower levels than men, also within faith-based organisations.
Patriarchal and religious traditions and structures, as well as gender-based discrimination and violence, are obstacles to gender equality.
In recent years, Norwegian Church Aid has focused on the strengthening of equal conditions for women and men as active citizens. In cooperation with faith-based organisations, we will challenge these organisations to contribute to the increased participation of women within their own structures and in society in general.
Our work
- Empowerment and mobilisation of women for participation in governance issues and structures, including faith-based structures
- Civic and rights education for girls
- Challenging the behaviour of main duty-bearers towards women’s participation in decision-making processes
- Advocating for the adaptation and implementation of national legal frameworks to international human rights conventions (CEDAW, etc)
Where we work
The following countries are included in the ‘Women in governance’ programme: Angola, Kenya, Sudan, Mali, South Africa, Zambia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Haiti.
Results
An example of work in this area is our Mali programme, which achieved positive results in its programme for the increased participation of women in municipal government in northern Mali between 2007-2009. Results in local governing structures such as health committees were especially positive.