A dialogue in Zanzibar, Tanzania, is focusing on harmful social norms that continue to limit the participation of women and young people in leadership and decision-making.
The discussions come amid concerns about gender-based violence against women in public life.
An Inter-Parliamentary Union study found that 82 per cent of women parliamentarians surveyed across five regions had experienced psychological violence.
UN Women representative Julia Broussard said one of the harmful social norms that should be debunked is that men are better leaders than women.
"Such attitudes have real consequences, influencing the opportunities women receive, the support they can mobilise and their ability to exercise leadership and influence decisions. For women who do step forward, violence and intimidation, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence, create further barriers to their participation. Young people also face barriers to meaningful political participation, including limited access to decision-making spaces and opportunities to influence policies that affect their lives."
Jean-Marc Pisanil is the EU's ambassador to Tanzania.
"Women's under-representation in leadership remains a concern, with about half of the world's population still believing that men make better political leaders than women. The initiative strengthens women's democratic engagement and leadership by addressing discriminatory social norms and building political skills in cooperation with global partners."
Tanzania's Minister for Community Development, Gender, Elders and Children, Saada Mkuya, reflected on her political journey, including her experience serving in three ministries.
"But because I am a woman, it is a learning experience from the policy perspective, but not from a practical perspective. Laws are being passed without looking at the different gender perspectives of men and women. I took one law with my colleagues and looked at it through a gender lens to understand what the Act is about."
In June, speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, also raised concerns about the treatment of women in public life.
She called on the media to report responsibly and fairly on women in leadership, warning that controversial coverage could undermine their confidence in public life. She also highlighted concerns about technology-facilitated violence against women politicians.
The dialogue is hosted by International IDEA's Women and Youth Democratic Engagement initiative, UN Women and the European Union.