Partnership between IDEA and Ombudsman’s Office focuses on gender equality

International IDEA has established a partnership with the Peruvian Ombudsman’s Office to review the implementation of gender quotas and make recommendations to the National Electoral Jury (Jurado Nacional de Elecciones), as well as to train Ombudsman’s Office staff and journalists about gender discrimination in electoral campaigns.

An international seminar, “The State of Gender Quotas in Peru,” will be held on 11 March 2010, featuring Dr José A. Aquino of the Dominican Republic’s Central Elections Board as keynote speaker. Seminar participants will also hear conclusions about the conduct of the most recent supplementary elections (November 2009), which are part of a report prepared by the Ombudsman’s Office with technical assistance from International IDEA.

On 24 March 2010, IDEA and the Ombudsman’s Office will also conduct a workshop for journalists on sexism and discrimination in campaign coverage.

International IDEA will also hold work sessions with Ombudsman’s Office commissioners to jointly analyze and discuss the main problems faced by women in the political arena, especially during electoral campaigns. These sessions will focus on both theory and practice, and will result in a technical record-keeping system for identifying cases of gender discrimination and possible ways in which the Ombudsman’s Office could respond or offer solutions.