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This paper is based on the concept that democratic elections are key to peace-building in post-conflict situations, and that women’s participation is vital to ensuring sustainable democracy. Given the acknowledged importance of both democratic elections and the role of women in peace-building, enhancing women’s participation in elections in post-conflict countries is essential to building peace and democracy and advancing the equality of women and men. Elections can provide the best possible opportunity to ensure women’s voices are heard, their concerns are addressed, and their potential contributions to peace and democracy are maximised.

This paper examines strategies for promoting women’s participation in elections, citing various UN declarations and resolutions that highlight government’s obligations to ensure this. The paper proposes some key governmental and societal elements that must be aligned to ensure women’s ability to participate. These include:

• legal framework
• social and political opportunities and openness to political participation
• access to voter registration and voter education
• election management and observation.

All of these elements must be managed and organised to be conducive to women’s participation.

The authors also make several general recommendations for all actors in post-conflict electoral processes:

• adhere to international standards for the protection of women’s civil and political rights
• include women as members of delegations to peace negotiations and in bodies created for the implementation of peace accords, including those responsible for the development of new electoral processes
• carefully design and implement new laws and electoral processes to ensure and enhance women’s participation and to effectively increase the possibility of women being elected
• make certain that the practical aspects and details of the electoral process do not indirectly discriminate against women
• consider adopting temporary special measures such as quotas
• require or encourage political parties to nominate and support women candidates, in part by placing them high enough on their candidate lists to be elected
• ensure that refugee and internally displaced women enjoy the right to vote
• create platforms to ensure women’s voices and concerns are heard
• design and conduct voter registration and education campaigns targeting women.

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