Shivani Yadav, Christ University
ABSTRACT
Women's empowerment and representation in local governance are critical components of a democratic society. In many parts of the world, women have been marginalized and excluded from decision-making processes, including local governance. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of women's participation in governance and the need to empower them. Women's participation in local governance has been shown to have a positive impact on both governance and development outcomes. This research paper will focus upon when women are in positions of leadership, they tend to prioritize issues that are important to women, such as healthcare, education, and social welfare. Additionally, it will also emphasize when women in leadership positions tend to be more responsive to the needs of their communities and more accountable to their constituents. Empowering women to participate in local governance involves addressing a range of structural, social, and cultural barriers that prevent women from participating fully in public life. This paper will also focus on training programs and support for women who are interested in running offices, promoting gender-sensitive policies and practices, and addressing gender- based discrimination and violence. Governments and civil society organizations can support women's empowerment and representation in local governance by providing training and resources, promoting gender- responsive policies and practices, and advocating for women's rights and equality. This research will try to cover some aspects of gender-sensitive programs and policies that address women's needs and ensure their participation in decision-making processes are critical for creating inclusive and democratic societies. Overall, empowering women and promoting their representation in local governance is critical for building inclusive, democratic societies that promote human rights, social justice, and sustainable development. By ensuring that women's voices are heard and their perspectives are considered and the motive of conducting this research is to support women's leadership and participation in local decision-making, we can create more equitable and responsive governance structures that better serve the needs of all members of society.
Keywords: Gender equality, discrimination, women’s rights, women empowerment, and representation of women in local governance.
