In partnership with the Burkina Faso based organization the Centre for Democratic Governance (CDG), International IDEA hosted a workshop to promote and disseminate key findings of the French version of the handbook, Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers (Les Femmes au parlement: Au-delà du nombre). The handbook was regionalised for audiences in French-speaking Africa during 2002. The workshop was held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 4 March 2003 in the week leading up to International Women’s Day in an effort to promote further dialogue on women’s participation in Burkina Faso.

The activity provoked a constructive dialogue on the findings of the handbook and ensured its appropriation by Members of Parliament, leaders of political parties, civil society activists and media. The workshop also developed recommendations aimed at promoting the political participation of women in decision-making structures in Burkina Faso. International IDEA and Stockholm University’s new website on Quotas for Women was also showcased at the event.

The specific themes discussed included a session on “Women in Politics: Obstacles, Strategies and Opportunities” that aimed to provide an overview of the obstacles that affect women’s participation in politics, particularly in the case of Burkina Faso, and identify some of the strategies that may be used to overcome them, and a session on “Women in Parliament: Bukinabe Experiences” which examined the experience of women parliamentarians and how they have sought to make a difference in parliament.  The speakers included the Minister for Women’s Promotion, Mrs. Giséle Guigma, who gave the keynote address, Burkinabes Ms. Marléne Zébango, Nestorine Compaore, and Mrs. Marie Madeleine Ouédraogo, Ms Julie Ballington and Mr Jose-Maria Aranaz from International IDEA, Professor Augustin Loada from the CDG.  

Click here for an overview of the proceedings