{"product_id":"2940013655980","title":"Women as Agents of Change: Advancing the Role of Women in Politics and Civil Society","description":"In the last decade, we have seen a meaningful shift in momentum surrounding the need for gender equality and especially a growing call for women's voices in the decision-making process from the international arena to local communities around the world. Nonetheless, despite increased momentum around women's empowerment and political participation, there is still much more progress to be made. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eToday, while women account for over half of the population, they occupy less than 19 percent of the seats in national parliaments, according to the IPU. In many countries steps have been taken to increase the number of women in government and political life, such as constitutional reform mandating quotas at the national \u003cbr\u003elevel and the introduction of programs that help female candidates win election to political offices. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCritics claim this doesn't do enough to give women equal voice in decision-making and meaningfully institutionalized gender equality. It levels the playing field but doesn't guarantee greater policy attention or social change. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is imperative to increase not just the numbers but also the effectiveness of women in political and civil leadership roles. This includes ensuring that women elected to offices and appointed to ministries have real power to enact legal reforms that address the needs of women, children, and families, which are inseparable from the needs of the community as a whole. It also includes ensuring increased training and education for men and boys to work with women as equal partners and change negative sociocultural stereotypes.","brand":"United States House of Representatives","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47171602284784,"sku":"2940013655980","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013655980_p0.jpg?v=1763583995","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013655980","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}