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Parliaments and Representatives

Democracy and the equal participation of men and women in the political arena are closely intertwined. No parliament or any decision-making body can claim to be representative without the participation of both men and women. As stated in the Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Member Parliaments in 1997, "The achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementarity, drawing mutual enrichment from their differences."

Recent years have seen a steady increase in the number of women in parliament, though the world average of less than 22 percent remains far from the goal of parity between women and men. The election of women to the highest positions of state and government in several countries has also contributed to the changing face of politics.

While the road to election is a difficult one, the challenges for women do not stop there. Once women enter parliament or other bodies, they are faced with many new challenges. Parliament is traditionally a male-oriented domain where the rules and practices have been written by men. It is, therefore, an ongoing challenge to transform parliament into a gender-sensitive environment, to ensure that actions are gender-sensitive and to guarantee that gender is mainstreamed throughout the legislature.

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Thai politicians, sexual harassment and what really needs to be fixed?

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Thai politicians, sexual harassment and what really needs to be fixed?

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Move Forward Party MPs Wuttipong Thonglour and Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit were expelled from the party after it was decided by the party’s disciplinary board that they had sexually harassed party volunteers.

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Move Forward Party MPs Wuttipong Thonglour and Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit were expelled from the party after it was decided by the party’s disciplinary board that they had sexually harassed party volunteers.

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Uganda: Women still lag behind in politics – new report

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Uganda: Women still lag behind in politics – new report

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Ugandan women as a special interest group remain on the sidelines of mainstream politics despite years of affirmative action, a new government report has revealed.

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Ugandan women as a special interest group remain on the sidelines of mainstream politics despite years of affirmative action, a new government report has revealed.

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Libyan activists, UN official discuss equitable political participation by cultural components

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Libyan activists, UN official discuss equitable political participation by cultural components

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Deputy SRSG in Libya Raisedon Zenenga received yesterday a delegation from the Constitutional Equality Movement which included activists, women representatives, and representatives of the Amazigh, Arab, Tabu and Tuareg communities, according to UN.

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Deputy SRSG in Libya Raisedon Zenenga received yesterday a delegation from the Constitutional Equality Movement which included activists, women representatives, and representatives of the Amazigh, Arab, Tabu and Tuareg communities, according to UN.

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Pakistan: Shujat for providing ample role to women in politics

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Pakistan: Shujat for providing ample role to women in politics

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President of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Chaudhry Shujat Hussain has said that the role of women in the development of country is important and they should be given ample opportunities in politics to move forward.

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President of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Chaudhry Shujat Hussain has said that the role of women in the development of country is important and they should be given ample opportunities in politics to move forward.

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Zimbabwe’s election widens gender gap in politics

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Zimbabwe’s election widens gender gap in politics

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Zimbabwe’s recent election has exposed weak gender policies both at the political party and governmental levels as women were sidelined despite the fact that they make up more than half of the 6.5 million electorate.

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Zimbabwe’s recent election has exposed weak gender policies both at the political party and governmental levels as women were sidelined despite the fact that they make up more than half of the 6.5 million electorate.

Don’t subject women legislators to patriarchal gaze

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November 6, 2023

Don’t subject women legislators to patriarchal gaze

Women have to ‘work twice as hard to get half as far’ as their male counterparts.

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Women have to ‘work twice as hard to get half as far’ as their male counterparts.

Lack of ‘female perspective’ in No.10 led to women’s deaths during Covid, says former top UK civil servant

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November 3, 2023

Lack of ‘female perspective’ in No.10 led to women’s deaths during Covid, says former top UK civil servant

A lack of gender diversity among decisionmakers in the UK prime minister’s office meant that women were not adequately considered in pandemic-related policymaking, likely leading to preventable d

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A lack of gender diversity among decisionmakers in the UK prime minister’s office meant that women were not adequately considered in pandemic-related policymaking, likely leading to preventable d

Welcome to the silly season

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November 3, 2023

Welcome to the silly season

The current brouhaha surrounding comments made by two senior Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parliamentarians about the physical attributes (or lack thereof) of a female People's National Party (PNP)

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The current brouhaha surrounding comments made by two senior Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parliamentarians about the physical attributes (or lack thereof) of a female People's National Party (PNP)

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What stands in way of realising two-thirds gender requirement

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What stands in way of realising two-thirds gender requirement

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While celebrating 13 years since the promulgation of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, Katiba Institute highlighted several achievements, some of which demonstrated a greater involvement of women in politics and decision-making. From no women governors in 2013 to seven in 2022, Kenya has undeniably witnessed gradual increase in election of female candidates in other political positions, including eight deputy governors, three senators, 115 MCAs and 29 MPs.

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While celebrating 13 years since the promulgation of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, Katiba Institute highlighted several achievements, some of which demonstrated a greater involvement of women in politics and decision-making. From no women governors in 2013 to seven in 2022, Kenya has undeniably witnessed gradual increase in election of female candidates in other political positions, including eight deputy governors, three senators, 115 MCAs and 29 MPs.

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