Coalition for Political Accountability to Women

Coalition for Political Accountability to Women (COPAW)

Postal Address	P. O. Box 27991, Kampala, Uganda
Street Address	Plot 15 Kanjokya Street, Kamwokya
Tel	+256 - 41- 543968
Fax	+256- 41 - 543968
E-mail	uwonet@starcom.co.ug
Web Address	-
Year Established	2001
Contacts	Valarie Vat Kamatsiko, Focal Person
Mission	To promote participation and influence of women in building a gender responsive political leadership and create an enabling environment that meets the social political needs of the people of Uganda. This is achieved through capacity building, lobbying and advocacy, agenda setting, monitoring of political accountability and providing space for women leaders.
Geographical area of operations	Uganda - operates at national level and is in the process of establishing district and lower level networks throughout the country.
Issues area of operations	- Engendering the development and review of national priorities - Women's participation in politics and decision-making at all levels - Political accountability to women.
Activities	- Providing space for women leaders - Research and dissemination of information - Civic and voter education - Advocacy for gender responsive laws and policies - Capacity building/skills training in advocacy, campaigning, leadership and decision making, etc. - Exchange visits for women in leadership - Mentor young upcoming women politicians - Profiling women in leadership
Affiliation(s)	-
Dissemination	Information about: - political issues of concern to women - profiles of women leaders - research and workshop reports
Target Audience	Women - women political aspirants, women in leadership positions, women voters, young women political leaders.
Additional Information	COPAW is a non-partisan alliance of rights based organisations and individuals committed topolitical accountability to women and to socio-political transformation in realising good governance in Uganda. It is composed of academics interested in supporting women's entry and participation in political decision making both as voters and as elected members. The formation of COPAW was a logical step in the process of advancing democracy and political leadership as essential elements of re-establishing good governance. It was stimulated by a common felt need to ensure that gender development concerns take central position in the political and legal processes so as to achieve more balanced and responsible decision making. COPAW was launched with the help of the Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the advancement of women (EASSI) and support by Isis Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE). February 2004: COPAW in collaboration with Uganda Women's Network (UWONET) organised a series of meetings last year (2003) to chart out clear and distinct issues to put to political parties and organisations as Uganda transits to pluralism. Some of the issues that prominently featured were (i) Real and Meaningful Democracy; (ii) Integration of the Principle of Affirmative Action; (iii) People-Centred / People-Focused Development; (iv) Commitment to Obligations under International Human Rights Instruments; and (v) Peace and Security. These issues were compiled in a brief memorandum that is now being shared widely for input.

Last update: February-17, 2004