EMBs around the world have made efforts to institutionalize their commitment to the principle of equality between men and women, by creating platforms and dedicating specific resources to gender mainstreaming. In some countries, EMBs have appointed a focal point or a network of focal points with the task of following-up on the gender-related work of different units in the institution and offering guidance. According to UNDP’s 2012 EMB survey, 29 percent of the 35 surveyed EMBs had appointed a focal point at the time of the research.[1] Another way to institutionalize gender mainstreaming within EMBs is to create a specific unit or committee dedicated to enhancing women’s participation and promoting equality in the electoral process. EMBs can include both men and women as gender focal points and electoral staff of gender units.[2]

Example: In Afghanistan, a Gender Unit was created in 2009 “to increase women’s political participation through long-term change at the Election Commission including through capacity-building, gender mainstreaming and making the Commission a female-friendly institution.” The Gender Unit advises and supports all other departments “in order to ensure that women are included in every way as political actors and as staff.”[3]

Example: In Costa Rica, the TSE appointed the Gender Commission in 2000, composed of electoral staff and chaired by a woman magistrate or electoral judge. It played a key role in developing an internal policy for gender equality.[4]

Example: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the seven members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) was appointed as a gender focal point, with the task of supporting the creation of a Gender Unit. The Gender Unit is composed of two women, a coordinator and an assistant. Its main goal is to promote gender mainstreaming within the electoral body. It is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of the CENI’s gender policies at the national and local levels.[5]

Example: In Iraq, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) had a gender unit in 2011, with representation from all the departments and chaired by a female commissioner. The unit received support from a United Nations adviser.[6] 

Example: In Paraguay, the Electoral Tribunal established a special Gender Equality Unit in 2009, with the mandate to gather sex-disaggregated data, analyze the electoral process from a gender perspective, coordinate with political parties on strategies to enhance women’s participation and collaborate with national and international institutions.[7]

Example: In Guatemala, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) created the Department for the Political Promotion of Women and the Department for Social Inclusion in 2013, through the Agreement no. 38-2013. The first is part of the Civic, Political and Electoral Training and Capacity Building Institute (Instituto de Formación y Capacitación Cívico-Política y Electoral), and aims to advancing the political participation of women, especially through civic and voter education activities. The mandate of the Department for Social Inclusion comprises developing capacity building initiatives for the LGBTI community, among other under-represented groups.[8]