What We Are
The Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) is a non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental regional organization (NGO) dedicated to promoting equal participation of women in politics and decision-making. CAPWIP was established in 1992 by a group of women from the Asia-Pacific region who share a vision of governance that affirms gender equality, integrity and accountability, excellence, sustainable development and peace.
We advocate transformative politics which is the use of power to create change towards economic, social and political equity between sexes and among sectors within the context of shaping a society that is just, humane and promotes a sustainable way of life.
CAPWIP operates through a network of national affiliates clustered into 5 sub-regional groupings: Central Asia, East Asia, Pacific, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Our sub-regional focal points and national affiliates are autonomous organizations actively involved in women's political empowerment in their respective countries. CAPWIP has committed itself to supporting its network through technical assistance in organizational and program planning, training, research and information sharing. The center is currently based in the Philippines.
CAPWIP receives administrative and program support from voluntary contributions from its Board of Trustees and other individuals, annual membership fees and grants from bilateral and multilateral aid agencies.
Goals
Our goals are:
- to create a critical mass of competent, committed and effective women politicians in elective and appointed positions in government,
- to develop a responsible female citizenry, and
- to influence female politicians and electorate to work together to transform politics and governance for the common good.
Plan of Action
Promoting the political empowerment of women is crucial in order to realize CAPWIP's vision of Transformative Politics. Our Plan of Action is based on a framework of transformative politics that proposes to achieve women's political empowerment through a) getting more women into leadership positions at all levels and b) developing an effective and responsible women electorate.
This Plan of Action was formulated by and for Asia-Pacific women in the world of male-dominated politics to as a guide to achieving the political advancement of women.
CAPWIP Programs
Organizing and Networking
- Promotes the establishment of a broad network of sub-regional and national affiliates of women in politics in the Asia-Pacific region, including support structures such as a regional network of training and research institutes.
- Collaborates with women leaders, women's organizations and existing political institutes in promoting transformative politics and women's political empowerment.
- Utilizes various forms of mass media as a means to enhance public awareness of the need for women's equal representation in decision-making and politics.
- Organizes congresses that serve as a venue for women all over the Asia-Pacific region to share their experiences, discuss issues and articulate priority areas for action.
Training
- Develops modules and training programs for women's leadership and responsible citizenship based on the framework of transformative politics.
- Conducts trainers' training for women's political empowerment and transformative politics.
Research and Information Sharing
- Undertakes policy analysis and various types of research on women in politics including needs assessment impact studies, documentation and analysis of best practices in politics.
- Establishes data banks on women's political participation and resources on women's political empowerment and transformative politics.
- Manages an interactive web network that encompasses the central office, 5 sub-regional focal points and national focal points.
- Produces publications on women's political empowerment and transformative politics.
Origins of CAPWIP
CAPWIP and its role in forming the Global Network of Women in Politics (GLOBALNET) is an interesting story, covering almost ten years and including many well known names in the current WIP community. Read it here!
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Dated: 11Feb2000