Women's Rights Publications

Voting as a Powerful Tool for Women

Oct 25, 2012

Hanin Ghaddar, a Lebanese public policy scholar at the Wilson Center, writes about the role that voting can play in empowering women in the Middle East. She discusses the need for the Arab Spring to be accompanied by a women's spring. more

Afghanistan, Against the Odds: A Demographic Surprise

May 11, 2012

A new survey finds that Afghanistan and Pakistan are on surprisingly similar demographic paths. Demographer Elizabeth Leahy Madsen says this is good news for Afghanistan, but not for Pakistan, where efforts to meet family planning needs have fallen short. more

Securing Development and Peace in the Niger Delta: A Social and Conflict Analysis for Change

Jan 26, 2012

Few regions in the world have been as unfortunate as Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta. The delta’s abundant natural wealth stands in stark contrast to its palpable underdevelopment. The oil sector accounts for approximately 95 percent of Nigeria’s export earnings and over 80 percent of federal government revenue, but for nearly two decades the delta has been mired in conflict and violence that threatens human security and the national economy. more

Women, Migration and the Work of Care: The United States in Comparative Perspective

Oct 03, 2011

A new United States Studies publication, based on the conference: "Temporary Migrant Care Worker Programs in Canada and the EU: Models for the U.S.?" more

Women in East European Politics

Jul 07, 2011

This conference aimed at exploring the experiences and the political goals of women elected to parliament in the postcommunist countries of East Central Europe and Russia. Since 1989, the political scene in Eastern Europe and Russia has changed swiftly. In many countries, women participated in the drive to transform the communist system through demonstrations, civil activism and roundtables.Yet, in the immediate transition period, civic participation of the population in general has declined and the social and political participation of women seems to have declined more than that of men. This difference is attributed in part to the fact that women have been more burdened by the complex adjustments to the social and economic transformations of their societies. In the last few years, however, women with good qualifications and professional experience are slowly gaining political power and influence in several countries. more