Parliaments & Representatives
On 21 September, Indian legislators passed the first legislation considered in the country’s new Parliament building: the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023. The bill, which passed both houses of Parliament almost unanimously—with just two votes against—will ensure that women occupy at least 33 per cent of the seats in state legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
Click here to read the full article published by UN Women Asia & the Pacific on 27 October 2023.
Regional and local leaders across the European Union, non-governmental organisations and researchers attending the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) conference "Local and regional strategies for closing the gender gap in politics: Roads taken and what´s next?" call on decision-makers to introduce concrete solutions like quotas or parity requirements to achieve gender equality in political representation. The introduction of such instruments should be seen not only as respect for women's rights, but also to ensure equal opportunities for democratic participation in political life at all levels. The conference cited positive examples from Finland, France and other countries that have helped close the gender gap in politics, and highlighted the need to apply gender mainstreaming for better policymaking.
Click here to read the full article published by the European Committee of the Regions on 25 October 2023.
A Social Development and Gender Specialist/ Consultant, Dr Miriam Rahinatu Iddrisu, has described as worrying statistics indicating a decline in women’s participation in politics in the country.
She said the statistics did not tally with Ghana’s credentials as a mature and stable democratic country with a well-functioning multi-party system and a strong broadcast media.
Click here to read the full article published by the Graphic Online on 25 October 2023.
In September, history was made with Parliament passing the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. A compelling imperative for all political parties to acknowledge the importance of the role of women in an inclusive polity, it is a clarion call to women to recognise their agency, assume equal responsibilities as citizens and define their destinies. It is a significant achievement of the women’s movement in the country.
Click here to read the full article published by The Indian Express on 23 October 2023.
The Arab Parliament emphasized that women’s political empowerment, which enhances the roles they can play in the political sphere, contributes significantly to consolidating the process of democratisation and achieving inclusive development, notably in light of women’s assumption of high-ranking positions reaching the presidency of governments in various countries across the world. The Arab Parliament added that strengthening Arab women's political contributions is among the priorities of its work, stressing that there are honorable models of the growing role of Arab women in the political sphere demonstrating that women in Arab societies are capable of giving if they possess the co-factors in this area primarily qualification and equal opportunities.
Click here to read the full article published by the National News Agency on 23 October 2023.
Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs has lamented the Non-inclusivity of the Nigerian Women in Politics and decision making which has become a barrier to the country’s socio-economic growth.
The Minister who advocated for all hands to be on deck towards breaking those barriers that have impeded our quest for socio-economic advancement as a nation, over the years, appealed that, “We need to break the barrier if we must move forward as a country”.
Click here to read the full article published by Independent Nigeria on 21 October 2023.