The Fifty-Fourth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women: Democratic Governance and Women's Rights

The Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Nicaragua to the United Nations, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), are co-hosting a panel at the 54th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Democratic governance is a key element in achieving equitable and sustainable development. Yet much of the existing research and literature on democratic systems addresses neither how women’s political participation contributes to democratic processes and outcomes, nor how this form of governance advances women’s rights and gender equality. At this session, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will present the new Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWIL). IDRC will launch its global research initiative on Democratic Governance, Women’s Rights, and Gender Equality. This initiative will support Southern-based researchers to examine women’s political citizenship and how democratic governance systems respond to women’s rights, needs, and priorities. Panelists will explore these issues at the global and regional levels. The Huairou Commission will discuss its work on strengthening grassroots women’s participation in decision-making processes, and local government responsiveness to community priorities. UNDP will present its work on gender and democratic governance, and women in politics. It will also launch a new regional report on women’s political participation in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).