Women’s leadership and political participation

From the local to the global level, women’s leadership and political participation are restricted. Women are underrepresented as voters, as well as in leading positions, whether in elected office, the civil service, the private sector or academia. This occurs despite their proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance.

Women face several obstacles to participating in political life. Structural barriers through discriminatory laws and institutions still limit women’s options to run for office. Capacity gaps mean women are less likely than men to have the education, contacts and resources needed to become effective leaders.

As the 2011 UN General Assembly resolution on women’s political participation notes, “Women in every part of the world continue to be largely marginalized from the political sphere, often as a result of discriminatory laws, practices, attitudes and gender stereotypes, low levels of education, lack of access to health care and the disproportionate effect of poverty on women.”

Individual women have overcome these obstacles with great acclaim, and often to the benefit of society at large. But for women as a whole, the playing field needs to be level, opening opportunities for all

2017

In 2017, the HLPF will be held from 10 to 19 July under the theme of “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world”. The following set of SDGs will be discussed in-depth:

SDG 1 – end poverty in all its forms everywhere
SDG 2 – end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
SDG 3 – ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
SDG 5 – achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
SDG 9 – build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
SDG 14 – conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
SDG 17 – strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

As a contribution to the HLPF’s in-depth review of SDG 5, UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) held an expert group meeting on “Strategies to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls through the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” on 30–31 May 2017 at UN headquarters in New York. See “Making the SDGs work for women: Experts meet at the UN ahead of High-Level Political Forum” for webcast videos, background documents and outcomes of the meeting.

Useful links and documents

See more about the 2017 HLPF

2020

In 2019, the HLPF under the auspices of ECOSOC was held on 9–18 July under the theme “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. The following SDGs were discussed in-depth:

Goal 4 – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal 8 – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal 10 – Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 16 – Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17 – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

UN Women drafted a set of two-pagers for the goals under review, which include facts and key messages for each of the goals.

For the first time since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015, the HLPF also met under the auspices of the General Assembly (SDG Summit) on 24 and 25 September 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Heads of State and Government gathered to follow up and comprehensively review progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Expert Group Meeting

As a contribution to the HLPF, UN Women, UNODC and the UNFCCC Secretariat, in collaboration with UNIDO, organized an expert group meeting on “Tackling global challenges to equality and inclusion through the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Spotlight on SDGs 10, 13 and 16”, on 27-28 February 2019 in Vienna.

Selected reference documents

See more about the 2019 HLPF

2018

In 2018, the HLPF was held 9–18 July under the theme of “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”. The following SDGs were discussed in-depth:

SDG 6 – Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
SDG 7 – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
SDG 11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
SDG 12 – Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
SDG 15 – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
SDG 17 – Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Expert Group Meeting

As a contribution to the HLPF, UN Women, UN Environment, and UN Habitat organized an expert group meeting on “Building sustainable and resilient societies through the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, on 5–6 June 2018 in Nairobi.

Selected reference documents

See more about the 2018 HLPF

They found the first body the next day.

Paula Barrios

Timeline of the Conflict

1960

Civil war begins

Armed conflict breaks out between left-wing guerilla groups and the military forces, characterized by abductions, sexual violence, killing and dumping of bodies in mass graves. Access to land is a vital factor at the heart of the conflict; the majority of the victims are indigenous.

1954

Military Coup

A military coup led by Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas ousts the democratically elected President, Jacobo Arbenz. Castillo reverses land reforms that benefited poor farmers and removes voting rights for illiterate Guatemalans for years to come.

1970

Violence against indigenous peoples escalate

Following a brief restoration of civilian rule under President César Méndez, military-backed Carlos Arana is elected as President. Violence against guerilla groups and indigenous communities escalate.