GWL Voices Forms a Partnership with UN Women for the Americas and the Caribbean to Strengthen Women's Participation in Politics
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The signed agreement aims to influence the highest levels of decision-making to advance regulations, policies, and initiatives that guarantee gender-equal representation in all decision-making systems. It also seeks to contribute to the strengthening of women's leadership capacities, particularly at the local level.
GWL Voices and the UN Women Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting the full exercise of women's political rights and advancing the agenda of gender equality and women's empowerment.
Susana Malcorra, President of GWL Voices, stated:
Increasing women's representation is not just a matter of justice; it is a necessary precondition for building more inclusive and sustainable societies. The diversity of perspectives and approaches that women leaders bring is essential to addressing today's global challenges and enriches every sphere of society. However, despite the fact that women make up more than 50% of the population, it is still seen as a cause for celebration when the first woman is appointed to an executive position, whether in the private or public sector, from the local to the multilateral level. This must change once and for all so that women cease to be the exception and become the norm, alongside men.
The partnership will also seek to enhance cooperation in the production and exchange of knowledge, as well as the development of advocacy and communication actions to promote women's full participation in all areas of decision-making, including multilateral and diplomatic affairs.
Following the signing of the MoU, María Noel Vaeza, Regional Director of UN Women for the Americas and the Caribbean, stated:
We are delighted with this agreement because we need to strengthen the full and effective participation of women in all areas. We must address the barriers women face in power, from gender-based political violence to the isolation many women experience when they seek to transform structures and institutions to do things differently. We need to ensure that once women access decision-making positions, they can remain there and be the ones driving change for the benefit of all women and girls.
GWL Voices is pleased to establish this framework of cooperation to strengthen its Women in Politics initiative. With the support of UN Women, this initiative will focus on generating and disseminating knowledge about women's political participation in local governments and developing the capacities of local women leaders to advance women's rights and gender equality at the local level.
About GWL Voices
GWL Voices is an organization of more than 70 global women leaders from diverse regions and backgrounds committed to building an international system with gender equality that effectively addresses the current challenges of sustainable development, peace, security, and human rights.