Technology Helping Women Leaders Connect
Founded in partnership by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), iKNOW Politics was recently launched during the Fifty-First Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in honor of International Women’s Day While women continue to face innumerable obstacles in their efforts to attain leadership positions at national and sub-national levels, recent years have shown some encouraging trends in women’s increased political participation. Yet, until now, there was no consolidated network where women could discuss best practices and locate resources and case studies of women in politics from around the world. To address this need, five institutions have combined their resources and expertise to create an international network to support the participation of women in politics: The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics, or iKNOW Politics.
iKNOW Politics is an online network of politically active women and men around the world advancing the role and the number of women in political and public life. The network was launched on February 27, 2007 at the 51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Approximately 300 participants attended the launch and included representatives of the United Nations member states and staff, government officials, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, women’s groups and activists, media, and academia.
iKNOW Politics is a virtual forum that will create and disseminate knowledge and resources to support elected officials, practitioners, candidates, and other stakeholders to promote gender-sensitive governance and women’s full political participation. Available initially in English, French, and Spanish and soon in Arabic, the online workspace will allow participants at the national, regional, and grassroots levels to engage in three fundamental ways by:
· Providing access to an online library with up-to-date materials and research as well as the expertise of scholars and practitioners made available directly to network members;
· Creating new knowledge through mediated discussion forums, information exchange, and the consolidation of expert responses to member queries; and
· Sharing information as members report their experiences, lessons learned, and best practices with each other and the global community committed to the advancement of women in politics.
As stated by the Honorable Syringa Marshall Burnett, the President of the Senate in Jamaica, “This is a very useful tool for women in leadership positions. iKNOW Politics offers a global platform where women politicians can reach beyond partisanship and borders to share experiences, offer support and enhance their capacity to lead. It provides a global resource center and highlights the important experiences, challenges and aspirations of women working on the front line.”
For more information contact us at info@iknowpolitics.org
