2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

Women are facing various challenges, ranging from social, religious, and cultural barriers, all of which prevent them from realizing their dreams and showcasing their potential on both national and international levels. Poor and more vulnerable women and girls are disproportionately affected, particularly concerning issues related to water, food security, active voice, political participation, access, and opportunities. Exclusion from decision-making and urbanization means that larger, more concentrated populations are exposed to risks and losses. This highlights the need to integrate Women, Peace, and Security programs, lobbying, and advocacy into rural and urban planning and investments, where women and girls will be key in the conceptualization, planning, and implementation of proposals, as well as in decision-making. Civil society, government institutions, women's groups, grassroots organizations, and community-based organizations operating locally are also key contributors to actions protecting women and girls. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that these actors play an active role in the development and implementation of human rights initiatives. Women are often at the forefront of these solutions, protecting and restoring their environment and increasing the resilience of their communities while exercising their right to actively participate in the issues that affect them individually and collectively.