Strategies for Recruiting Female Election Observers
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Inclusivity
It is important for any election observation
initiative to be inclusive
Since the initiative speaks for all citizens, its
own composition should reflect the
composition of all the people of a given
country – male and female
Inclusivity
In general, marginalized populations, and in
particular women, face greater electoral
discrimination than other members of the
population.
Connecting with communities can facilitate better
information gathering for observation groups.
Barriers to Participation
It is important to remember that women face
different obstacles than those faced by men in
electoral participation, including participation as an
observer.
Community members know better than anyone
else the nature and extent of the barriers that exist
– observation recruiters should be encouraged to
think about these barriers and take them into
account
Proactive Recruitment
Recruiting women, then, requires proactivity
and dynamism
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This requires us to think about the barriers
and strategies to overcome them.
Barriers
Barriers are context-specific and can vary
depending on where one is observing, even within
one country. For example, the barriers in the
capital may not be similar to the barriers found in
the north of the country, which subsequently may
differ from those that are found in the west.
It’s important that observation recruiters learn from
the communities chosen for observation to better
understand the specific barriers.
Possible Barriers
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Lack of time
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Lack of knowledge
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Lack of interest a priori
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Not very connected with civil society
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Fears vis-à-vis the security situation
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Misunderstandings of the role of an observer
Other Barriers?
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How to Address Barriers?
Identify community members who could
serve as observers
–
Midwives
–
Students
–
Women who work in small businesses
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–
How to Address Barriers?
We must change the mentality of recruitment
If women in the interior are not very plugged
in to civil society, and if recruiters only call
people from civil society for
recommendations, we will never have many
women observers
Recruitment, then, requires real work!
How to Address Barriers?
•
Sensitization
•
Recruiters must explain the role of an
observer, and the requirements and
expectations of participating
•
Talk with family members or community
leaders who could prevent women from
participating
•
Give assurances about the safety and
neutrality of the project
•
Make an effort to generate interest in the
project
This presentation has been translated from the original French, and was created as part of the training of the observation group POECI in Cote d'Ivoire, before observing the 2015 elections.
Inclusivity is crucial in election observation initiatives to ensure representation of all citizens, including marginalized populations like women. Overcoming barriers to female participation requires proactive recruitment, understanding community-specific challenges, and engaging with various groups. Identifying capable women from diverse backgrounds such as midwives, students, and small business owners can help address these barriers effectively.
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Presentation Transcript
How to Recruit Female Election Observers?
Inclusivity It is important for any election observation initiative to be inclusive Since the initiative speaks for all citizens, its own composition should reflect the composition of all the people of a given country male and female
Inclusivity In general, marginalized populations, and in particular women, face greater electoral discrimination than other members of the population. Connecting with communities can facilitate better information gathering for observation groups.
Barriers to Participation It is important to remember that women face different obstacles than those faced by men in electoral participation, including participation as an observer. Community members know better than anyone else the nature and extent of the barriers that exist observation recruiters should be encouraged to think about these barriers and take them into account
Proactive Recruitment Recruiting women, then, requires proactivity and dynamism We must engage in active research to find capable women who meet the recruitment criteria. This requires us to think about the barriers and strategies to overcome them.
Barriers Barriers are context-specific and can vary depending on where one is observing, even within one country. For example, the barriers in the capital may not be similar to the barriers found in the north of the country, which subsequently may differ from those that are found in the west. It s important that observation recruiters learn from the communities chosen for observation to better understand the specific barriers.
Possible Barriers Lack of time Lack of knowledge Lack of interest a priori Not very connected with civil society Fears vis- -vis the security situation Misunderstandings of the role of an observer
How to Address Barriers? Identify community members who could serve as observers Midwives Students Women who work in small businesses
How to Address Barriers? We must change the mentality of recruitment If women in the interior are not very plugged in to civil society, and if recruiters only call people from civil society for recommendations, we will never have many women observers Recruitment, then, requires real work!
How to Address Barriers? Sensitization Recruiters must explain the role of an observer, and the requirements and expectations of participating Talk with family members or community leaders who could prevent women from participating Give assurances about the safety and neutrality of the project Make an effort to generate interest in the project
