The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) will hold a four-day regional workshop on Monday August 30, to launch its initiative titled "Supporting Women Political Leaders in Muslim South Asia."
The 15-month project is designed to encourage women's political participation in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. It aims at enhancing the capacity of women in the region to successfully campaign for office, to effectively serve as elected officials at the local levels, and to serve as leaders within their political parties.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour of the US State Department have provided the funding for the project.
At the opening session of the workshop, to be held here at a local hotel, Justice Majida Rizvi (Retd), Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women and representatives from six major Pakistani political parties will sign the Global Action Plan (GAP) developed in December 2003 by an international working-group of women party leaders from 27 countries including Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The GAP encourages political parties to take steps increasing women's leadership opportunities in recognition of the vital role they play in the reform, renewal, and modernisation of political parties and governance.
The opening session will also feature panel discussions on regional obstacles to women's political participation and strategies to overcome them. Panelists will include political party leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, as well as Nursanita Nasution, an Indonesian Parliamentarian.
NDI is a non-profit organisation, working to strengthen and expand democracy world-wide.
Calling on a global network of volunteer experts, NDI provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions.
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