European Liberal Forum and NDI CEE Regional Political Party Program are organizing the event to discuss the role men can play to promote women’s equity within political parties.
NDI CEE Regional Political Party Program and European Liberal Forum are organizing the event “Engaging Male Political Leaders for Gender Equality”, on February 21-23, 2025., in hotel Dubrovnik Palace, Dubrovnik, Croatia. The goal of the event is discussion on the role men can play to promote women’s equity within political parties. It is neccessary to shift the focus from being exclusively on women, as the sole agents in their own empowerment and instead, engage male political leaders as transformative agents of change for gender equality. The program will focus on men, political power, and gender norms in order to restructure political organizations for gender equality as part of organizational development and political strategy. This approach represents a diversion from the usual democracy and governance approaches, with an intentional focus on promoting equitable social norm change as a key factor in program success. Male political leaders will be given the opportunity to personalize issues of gender; to understand their own disproportionate power and privilege, and the impact this has on their lives, their families and their communities.
16:00 Arrival of the participants
20:00 Welcome dinner
9:00 Welcome coffee and registration
9:30 Opening remarks “The Role of Male Leaders in Transforming Gender Norms in Politics”
10:00-11:00
Panel Discussion: Understanding the Problem – “Unpacking Power Imbalances: The Impact of Gender and Social Norms in Political Organisations”
11:00-11:15 Coffee break
11:15-12:30 Interactive Workshop: Recognizing Bias and Norms. Identifying gender biases in political organizations.
Elmedin Kurtovic, Political consultant, Serbia
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:00 Case Studies: Successful Transformations
Presentation of regional and international case studies demonstrating shifts in male attitudes and practices.
15:00-15:30 Coffee Break
15:30-17:00 Roundtable: Men as Agents of Change – “What It Takes for Male Political Leaders to Support Gender Equality in Practice” With Representatives from political parties of SEE
16:45-17:00 Closing remarks
18:30 Dinner
20:00 Organized trip to the city center of Dubrovnik
9:00-10:30 Simulated Exercise: Developing an Action Plan – Participants work in teams to design initiatives for their organizations that integrate gender-transformative practices.
10:30-12:00 Role-Playing Session: Challenging Resistance – Participants role-play scenarios where they address resistance to gender equality within political organizations.
12:00 Closing remarks
12:30 Lunch
13:30 End of event