ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to advocate for the inclusion of gender equality as a norm in the 2003 Constitution as well as for instruments such as the constitutional quota that would uphold this principle. The United Nations (UNs) gender norms were used as a strategic resource to draw on for those women and their strategic partners who sought to advance their inclusion in policymaking. Several gender-specific provisions have impacted women's involvement in politics. Political parties are also obliged to grant both sexes equal chances at being elected and implementation mechanisms such as the Gender Monitoring Office and the National Council of Women. European countries differ how they deal with integrating gender equality in politics too. International offers of technical assistance were mostly rejected with a notable exception being the process of engendering the 2003 Constitution. Gender equality proponents, who had identified the constitution-making process as an opportunity to address structural changes to gender relations, intervened in the process.
