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http://www.iknowpolitics.org/en/node/220
 
News Release

New Virtual Network Unites Women in Politics Around the Globe

New York, 27 February 2007 - The first virtual network linking women in
politics throughout the world was launched today at the United Nations: the
International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics). This
ground-breaking initiative was founded in partnership by the International
Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the National Democratic Institute for
International Affairs (NDI), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

This innovative global platform-www.iKNOWPolitics.org
<http://www.iknowpolitics.org/> -is specifically designed to promote
gender-sensitive governance and advance the role and number of women in
political and public life. iKNOW Politics connects parliamentarians,
representatives, candidates, political party leaders and members,
researchers, academia and practitioners across borders, generations and
faiths, equipping them with the materials, expertise and best practices to
make their political mark.

The need for this resource is clear. Though the number of women in politics
has grown in recent years, they are still under-represented and face
innumerable obstacles to full participation. In 2006, less than 17 percent
of parliamentarians were women, according to IPU, and elected women head
only 13 of the world's 194 states and governments, as reported by the
Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership.

Welcoming the launch of iKNOW Politics, Liberian President Madame Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf said: "While the winds of change have begun to blow, women
remain on the fringes of political power. That is why the creation of iKNOW
Politics, the premier network for women in politics, will provide women with
the tools necessary to participate meaningfully in every facet of political
life."

Drawing on a database of over 100 experts on women in politics, iKNOW
Politics allows users to access an online library with more than 400
reports, handbooks and training materials in English, French and Spanish
from leading international agencies, research institutions, academia and
civil society groups. Other highlights include a virtual forum for mediated
discussions, high-profile interviews, member-created sites and a variety of
resources on campaigns, elections and quotas, political parties, parliaments
and representatives, advocacy and lobbying, skills building, budgets and
legislation and post-conflict and transitional participation.
 
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http://www.iknowpolitics.org/en/node/220

About iKNOW Politics

The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics) is an online workspace designed to serve the needs of elected officials, candidates, political party leaders and members, researchers, students and other practitioners interested in advancing women in politics. It is a joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).

The goal of iKNOW Politics is to increase the participation and effectiveness of women in political life by utilizing a technology-enabled forum. The iKNOW Politics Web site plays a central role in achieving this goal by offering users the opportunity to:

  • Access resources, including the online library and the information and expertise of other users, experts and practitioners;
  • Create knowledge through mediated discussion forums, information exchange and consolidated expert responses to member queries; and
  • Share experiences by using tools specifically designed to facilitate the exchange of lessons learned and best practices among members of a global community committed to the advancement of women in politics.

In order to provide the highest possible level of accessibility and ensure wide-scale use, the content and resources on the iKNOW Politics Web site are available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.






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