ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) on Monday launched a four-day regional workshop under its initiative titled "Supporting women political leaders in Muslim South Asia".

A press release issued here by the NDI said during the opening session, representatives from four major political parties - PML, PML-N, PPP and MQM - signed the "Win With Women Global Action Plan (GAP)" to demonstrate their commitment to advancing women participation in political affairs.

The women leaders also affirmed their commitment to implementing the GAP in their political parties and ensured that their parties would honour the declaration in action as well as words.

The opening session also featured a panel discussions on regional obstacles to women participation in politics and strategies to overcome these. Panelists included political party leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan.

Following the opening plenary, 11 women selected by leading political parties from each of the programme countries collaborated with regional and international trainers in the first of a series of trainings sessions that would continue for the next three days.

Over the next 12 months, these participants will undertake additional trainings in their own countries tailored to the specific political needs and interests of women in each country.

The press release said the GAP, designed to recognize the critical role played by women in strengthening democracy around the world, was a series of practical recommendations that parties could adopt to encourage women participation and leadership.

The GAP was developed in December 2003 by an international working-group of women party leaders from 27 countries, including Bangladesh and Pakistan. The 15-month initiative, "Supporting women political leaders in Muslim South Asia", was designed to encourage women participation in politics in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The project aims at enhancing the capacity of women in the region to successfully campaign for office and effectively serve as elected officials at the local levels, besides in their respective political parties. The project funding has been made by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour of the US Department of State.