Partner News

A week since The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic and robust measures around the world attempt to contain its spread, social impact of the Novel Coronavirus is hitting women hard.

As well as the health battle, the social impact of the #coronavirus is significant and it is women who are being disproportionately affected.

An international survey has ranked Japan 113th of 190 countries for the percentage of women in ministerial positions. It is the lowest among the Group of Seven industrialized countries.

The report was made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women. It includes rankings for women in executive, parliamentary and government positions as of January 1 this year. The data was released to coincide with International Women's Day.

A report released Thursday by U.N. Women says "under-representation of women in power and decision-making is still the norm."

The executive director of the U.N. agency dedicated to the empowerment of women said that men account for 75% of parliamentarians and hold 73% of managerial positions globally. They account for 70% of climate negotiators, and almost all peace negotiators are men, she said.

Press Release

Geneva, Switzerland and New York City, USA – 10 March 15:00 CET/10:00 ET

Almost 90% of people are biased against women, according to a new index that highlights the “shocking” extent of the global backlash towards gender equality.

Despite progress in closing the equality gap, 91% of men and 86% of women hold at least one bias against women in relation to politics, economics, education, violence or reproductive rights.

With Lebanon’s next parliamentary elections slated for 2022, coalitions should begin pushing to ensure women are equally represented in politics, activists and local advocacy groups said following the release of a U.N. Women report Tuesday entitled "Pursuing equality in rights and representation: women’s experiences running for Parliament in Lebanon’s 2018 elections."

The Serbian Parliament has announced an amendment to its electoral laws with a new minimum quota of 40 per cent of candidates on electoral lists for parliamentary and local elections from the less-represented gender.

High-level experts and policymakers have issued a clarion call to African leaders to ensure the needs and perspectives of the continent’s women and girls are fully integrated into efforts to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

For future elections, one of which is expected to be held in October this year, the Executive Director of Paramount Young Women Initiative, Facia B. Harris, is encouraging young women of Liberia to make use of every opportunity available to them to pursue political seats at the National Legislature.