Unit 3 Questions

Please answer each of the following questions.  If you are taking this course in a group you may then meet to discuss your answers.

1. What would be a realistic assessment of the number of women Members in the Parliament of your country in five years’ time?
2. Does the number of women Parliamentarians matter or is it a question of quality of those elected?
3. What role can the media play in helping women to attain their full potential in public life?
4. Discuss methods whereby staff may assist women Members to play a fuller role in Parliament.

Relevant Abbreviations

CHRI           Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
ComSec      Commonwealth Secretariat
CPA            Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
IntIDEA        International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
IPU              Inter-Parliamentary Union
UNDP          United Nations Development Program
UNIFEM       United Nations Development Fund for Women
WBI             World Bank Institute

Relevant Abbreviations

CHRI           Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
ComSec      Commonwealth Secretariat
CPA            Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
IntIDEA        International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
IPU              Inter-Parliamentary Union
UNDP          United Nations Development Program
UNIFEM       United Nations Development Fund for Women
WBI             World Bank Institute

Relevant Internet Resources

Commonwealth Plan of Action on Gender
http://www.cpahq.org/GenderPoA20052015_pdf_media_public.asp

ILO Mandate for Gender Equality
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/gender.htm

Select Bibliography

CPA (current). Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Today.
www.cpahq.org/topics/women/cwptoday

CPA (current). Data on Women in Commonwealth Parliaments.
www.cpahq.org/topics/default.aspx?id=10

CPA (2000). Women in Commonwealth Parliaments, Meeting of Ministers of Women’s Affairs,
New Delhi, 2000. London, CPA.

IPU (1995). Women in Parliaments, 1945-1995. Geneva, IPU.

IPU (current). Women in National Parliaments
www.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm

Zimmerman, J. and Rule, W. (1998). Women and Ministers in Parliaments
and Legislatures in World Encyclopedia of Parliaments and Legislatures, ed. Kurian, G.T. and Longley, L.  Washington, D.C., Congressional Quarterly.

CPA (2001). Gender-Sensitizing Commonwealth Parliaments. London, CPA.

CPA/ComSec/British Council (2003). EnGENDERing Development and Democracy. London, CPA/ComSec/British Council.

ComSec (2004). Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015. London, ComSec.

ComSec (2001). Gender and Democracy. London, ComSec.

ComSec (2008). Small Change or Real Change? – Commonwealth Perspectives on Funding Gender Inequality. London, ComSec.

Galligan, Y. and Tremblay, M. (eds.) (2005). Sharing Power: Women, Parliament, Democracy. London, Ashgate.

IntIDEA (current). Gender and Political Participation.
www.idea.int/gender

Karan, A. (ed.) (2006). Women in Parliament – Beyond Numbers. Stockholm, International IDEA.Lovenduski, J. and Campbell, R. (2001). Women, Public Life and Democracy.
London, CPA/Pluto Press.

Norris, P. and Lovenduski, J. (1995).  Political Recruitment: Gender, Class and Race in the British Parliament. Cambridge University Press.

Russell, M. (2000). Women’s Representation in UK Politics: What can be done within the Law?  London, University College (UCL).

Sawer, M., Tremblay, M. and Trimble, L. (eds.) (2008). Representing Women in Parliament: a Comparative Study. Oxford, Routledge.

Wijesekera, P. and Reynolds, D. (1999). Parliaments and Governments in
the Next Millennium. London, CPA/Cavendish

ComSec (2001). National Human Rights Institutes: Best Practice. London, ComSec.

ComSec (current). Gender Responsive Budgeting.

Budlender, D., Elson, D., Hewitt, G. and Mukhopadhyay, T. (2002). Gender Budgets Make Cents: understanding gender responsive budgets. London, ComSec.

Budlender, D. and Hewitt, G. (2002). Gender Budgets Make More Cents: Country Studies and Good Practice. London, ComSec.

Dorall, C. and Roberts, M. (eds.) (2005). Gender Equality: a Decade of Commonwealth Action. London, ComSec.

IPU/UNDP/WBI/UNIFEM (2004). Parliament, the Budget and Gender.
Geneva, IPU.
http://www.undp.org/governance/parldev/docs/parlbudgen.pdf

UNIFEM (current). Governance, Peace and Security.
http://www.unifem.org/index.php?f_page_pid=34