Dimensions of Political Inclusion and Exclusion in Brazil:

am pleased to share with you Mala Htun’s paper on the political inclusion and representation of women and afro-descendents in Brazil, prepared for the Women’s Leadership Program (PROLEAD) of the Women in Development Unit. The study centers on an important theme in the Bank’s gender and social inclusion agendas: promoting political inclusion. It explores whether the growing visibility and political activism of marginalized groups translates into a representation of their interests. The study also draws important lessons for other excluded groups from women’s struggle for equality. This paper forms part of PROLEAD’s effort to promote women’s leadership, political participation and representation in the Latin American and Caribbean region, with a special emphasis on indigenous and afro-descendent women. It also responds to a key priority of the Bank’s social inclusion agenda: knowledge building and research to better identify relevant issues and address social inclusion. We hope this paper will contribute to a further understanding of the challenges faced i