Despite the possibility of spillover violence from Syria, a vacancy in the presidency and postponed parliamentary elections, young Lebanese party activists are eager to find ways to enter politics.

Forty of them, representing five political parties, gathered outside Beirut last month for a campaign school for future candidates and campaign teams  to learn how to build outreach strategies and create messages that address voter interests.

Maka Meshveliani, NDI’s 2015 Andi Parhamovich Fellow, came to Washington, D.C., with a mission.

“Helping more women get elected in Georgia are both personal and professional passions of mine that luckily coincide,” said Meshveliani, a senior program officer in NDI’s Georgia office.  

She sat down for an interview in which she describes herself as “invested” in championing women in politics.

Electoral violence disproportionately affects women worldwide. In fact, a study by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems indicated that women voters face violence at four times the rate of male voters during elections.

Colombia’s coastal city of Cartagena with its historic buildings and charm is a prime tourist destination. But Colombians with disabilities who live there have long struggled for political attention and public policies that address their needs. They made a significant gain in 2011, when the municipal council passed a law to improve health care, education and accessibility for citizens with disabilities, but the council took no immediate steps to carry it out, delaying much-needed services.