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Publications: Women
 Executive Summary I. Introduction and Analytical Framework
II. Review of Trends in Women’s Participation since the 1995 Beijing Conference
III. Recent International Conferences on Governance
IV. Challenges Facing Women’s de Jure Equality in the 21st Century
V. Good Governance Practices to Enhance and Deepen Building
Women’s Constituencies, Lessons Learned and Future Steps
VI. Conclusion
Bibliography
Annex 1: Recommendations of the Beijing Platform for Action
Annex 2: Main Recommendations of International Conferences Focusing on Women’s Political Participation
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Meeting on Women and Political Participation: 21st Century Challenges by Azza M Karam VI. Conclusion: This paper was a journey along several signposts. The first being the Beijing Platform for Action, which provides a firm and detailed framework for policies for enhancing both women’s access to and performance within decision-making bodies. Next were the key recommendations of major international conferences dealing with these issues, which elaborated as well as reaffirmed the principles and the advocacy of the Platform for Action, while stressing various features related to the entire sequence of institutions, actors, and processes involved. Hence, the affirmation that the field on which to enact and further women’s political participation is well-travelled, ripe for further mileage, as well as ready for a reassessment of the ground already covered. Other stops along the route included a review of the key challenges still facing women’s de jure equality today and in the next century, an insight into good governance practices, and a critical look at the lessons learned thus far, and last but by no means least, a peek into future steps. What remains is the final stop along this journey, and it is to highlight that one of the most important political realisations of this century is the fact that there is no going back on democracy, or at least on the international commitment to advocate, build capacities, and further it. Therefore, within the exact framework of this realisation and ensuing commitments, there is no going back on enhancing women’s political participation globally. It is clear that international organisations have an important ongoing role to play. The road travelled since Beijing is far, and the path still winds onwards. Complacency is the biggest enemy of any progress, in the same way that the lack of comprehensive and widely comparative information can hamper many targeted efforts. What must be kept in mind at all times, is that there is an important path to tread in-between complacency and constant criticism. It is this path of saluting strengths while acknowledging weaknesses that should be lighted throughout the march onwards. Meanwhile, a Chinese proverb needs to be kept in mind - while we simultaneously reconstruct it: The (wo)man who built a mountain, began by collecting small stones.
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