IRI’s Women’s Democracy Network Hosts Political Party Training in Mexico

For Immediate Release
February 13, 2007

Washington, D.C. – The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) gathered women political party activists from throughout Latin America for a political party building seminar in Mexico City on February 8. The group included several women who attended the WDN regional conference last August in Lima, Peru, as well as representatives from Mexico’s three main political parties.

The women participants learned about the importance of having a clear campaign strategy from Antonio Sola, a consultant who worked with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on his recent election campaign. Mr. Sola discussed the need to constantly evaluate and reevaluate how the public perceives a message, and reviewed the particulars of building a successful campaign strategy. Frank Priess, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Mexico, which also cosponsored part of the program, spoke about political advertising and reviewed successful and unsuccessful political ads from recent election campaigns around the world. IRI’s Cesar Micheo, Director of the IRI Guatemala office, reviewed fundraising strategies, a subject specifically requested by members of the WDN.

Along with these important lessons on campaign skills, participants heard inspirational accounts from several successful women leaders. Leslie Bassett, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, gave an exceptionally moving address on the importance of women supporting one another.

Three political leaders from Mexico echoed Ms. Bassett’s remarks. Rocio Gaytan, President of the newly formed National Institute on Women, spoke of the need to ensure women are represented at all levels of society. Elizabeth Yanes Robles; a founding member of the WDN who is now the Mexican Under Secretary for Public Safety; and Myriam Arabian, who is Regional Coordinator for the Mexican Minister of Social Development and attended the WDN Peru conference, detailed the importance of making connections with other women involved in politics to learn from and support one another. In particular, Ms. Arabian noted the essential mentoring support she received from a leading woman political figure who helped her find her way in politics.

Five delegates shared with other participants the work they have conducted since the WDN inaugural meeting in Lima, Peru. Women from Argentina, Ecuador and Honduras created their own training programs and began their own networks based on the ideas and skills presented at the Peru WDN conference. These women have reached dozens of women in their home countries with the important message that change can come when women help one another.

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