bangkit.net

[WDC: Please contact the APWLD directly, this is not organised by the WDC]

Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) is an independent, non-government, non-profit organisation committed to enabling women to use law as an instrument of social change and to promote women’s human rights. APWLD is the only regional network addressing the issue of women, law and development in the Asia-Pacific and has an outreach with a wide network of women’s and human rights NGOs and individuals in the region.

APWLD’S Women’s Participation in Political Processes (WPPP) Programme is conducting a Regional Gender and Politics Training Workshop Level 1: Skills and Capacity-Building for Women Political Leaders, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, 27-29 July 2007.

Capacity building workshops for women political leaders is part of a training initiative of the WPPP Programme and is held:

to further develop decision making capacity of participating women political leaders;
to share experiences and develop skills of participants on how to raise gender issues within existing political institutions;
to develop capacity of participants on how to mainstream gender issues within political systems from a women’s human rights approach; and
to enhance the capacity of participants to promote and fulfill women’s human rights, including the right to take part in governance at all levels including local, national, regional and international level.

This Training Workshop, using the newly completed Level 1 training manual, is aimed at building the skills and capacity of women who want to engage in political processes and advance women’s agendas in their respective countries and across the Region.

The objectives for this three day Training Workshop are for aspiring women leaders:

1. to increase their capacity to reflect on and understand gender issues;
2. to enhance their understanding of non-discrimination, equality, politics and decision making processes in politics;
3. to share experiences and develop skills of participants on how to raise gender issues within existing political institutions; and
4. to identify personal, social and political barriers to women’s participation in political processes in general.

The Workshop sessions will focus on the following themes: politics and political systems; gender and patriarchy; politics for change; leadership for social transformation, legislation; and advocacy and lobbying for gender and issues.

APWLD invites women from Asia Pacific, who want to learn the concepts, knowledge and skills they need as women leaders. Further, this workshop will provide women leaders with the knowledge and skills for transformative politics. This will contribute to their effectiveness in political processes and create space for greater participation of
women leaders in the future. We hope to have around 18 participants from the region. The training will be in the English language. We regret to inform that due to limited resources, simultaneous translation facilities will not be available.

Participants will be selected based on the following considerations:
a. Balance in regional representation.
b. Preference will be given to individuals with institutional affiliations.
c. A staff member of these institutions who has been working on women’s political participation.
d. A government official in a decision-making position who can initiate measures for the greater political participation of women.
e. Activist/ para-legal, who has preferably been working on women’s political participation.
f. A lawyer who is committed to women’s human rights
g. Priority will be given to those working on issues relevant to marginalized sections of the population.

Procedures:
a. All applicants should submit a brief write up on how why this training would be useful to her.
b. The institution/ organisation should certify that the person recommended has worked in the area of women’s human rights and is committed to applying the core learning points from the training in her future work.

Disclaimers:
a. Candidates who have already undergone training in FLTP/CEDAW on a regional basis need not apply.
b. Please note that number of participants is limited and preference will be given to candidates who meet the above criteria.

APWLD Sponsorship:
APWLD will cover costs of travel, boarding and lodging for the three-day training period.

Please fill in the form and email/post/fax it to APWLD at:

Nalini Singh
Programme Officer
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
189/3 Changklan Road
Amphoe Muang
Chiang Mai 50101

Tel nos : (66) 53 284527, 284856
Fax : (66) 53 280847
Email: nalini@apwld.org

(If you send the form by email, please indicate clearly in the subject line “Application for Gender and Politics Training”)

The last date for receiving applications will be 8 June, 2007.