Women's Leadership

With only one in seven countries led by a woman, global political power remains dominated by men. Women are presidents or heads of government in only 28 of the world’s 195 countries, and 101 states have never had a female leader.

The latest data from the IPU and UN Women show that political equality remains a distant prospect: women hold no more than 22.4% of ministerial posts (down from 23.3% in 2024) and 27.5% of parliamentary seats (a level that has stagnated).

Fourteen countries, including six in Western Europe (1), have achieved gender parity in their governments, demonstrating that equal representation is possible. Conversely, eight countries still have no female ministers (2).

Gender Stereotypes

Women head 90% of ministries responsible for gender equality and 73% of ministries responsible for family and children’s affairs, reinforcing long-standing gender stereotypes in political leadership. Men continue to head almost exclusively the ministries responsible for defence, home affairs, justice, economic affairs, governance, health, and education.

“At a time of increasing global instability, escalating conflicts, and a visible rollback of women’s rights, excluding women from political leadership weakens societies’ ability to meet the challenges they face,” said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women.

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European ministers approved plans to allow female lawmakers in the European Parliament to delegate their vote temporarily before and after childbirth – a reform supporters say will make the institution more family-friendly.

Parliament President Roberta Metsola told Euractiv that the Council of the EU’s vote on Tuesday was “another crack in the glass ceiling” and an “important step” for women in politics.

“No woman should have to choose between serving her voters and having children,” Metsola said.

The Maltese lawmaker outlined the reform plans in June 2025, following a 2023 in-house campaign, pledging to update the rules for young mothers.

Currently, MEPs who are advanced in their pregnancy or on maternity leave must forgo voting unless they travel to Strasbourg, where plenary votes take place roughly once a month.

According to the European Parliament’s research service for members, only a handful of EU countries’ national parliaments, such as Greece and Spain, allow MEPs on maternity leave to vote while absent.

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HÀ NỘI — Women’s participation in politics is widely seen as a key measure of social progress and an important driver of socio-economic development, gender equality and sustainable growth.

Speaking at the seminar themed 'Women in Politics – A Story That Belongs to Everyone', held on Wednesday in Hà Nội, Associate Professor Dương Kim Anh, deputy director of the Việt Nam Women’s Academy (VWA), highlighted the growing role of women in shaping public policy and governance.

The event was organised by the VWA in co-ordination with the Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad Office in Việt Nam (APHEDA) to mark the upcoming election of the 16th National Assembly and people’s councils at all levels for the 2026–31 term.

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Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is on a visit to Rome, where she joined the “Women of My Time” event, organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ecclesiastical advisor to Minister Antonio Tajani.

In her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that women in Belarus have historically carried a great deal of responsibility: “In Belarus, life has always rested on the shoulders of women. It was women who rebuilt the country after the wars. Women raised children alone when their husbands were taken away by war, prison, or exile. This is still happening today. It was women who, in 2020, raised the flag and led the peaceful protests. And I believe that it will ultimately be women who dismantle the dictatorship and turn our country toward democracy and the European future we are fighting for”. 

She highlighted Belarusian women who show courage despite repression: “Courage is 80-year-old Nina Bahinskaya, who walks the streets with the white-red-white flag, and when the police confiscate it, she simply sews a new one. Courage is Maryia Kalesnikava, who tore up her passport at the border so the regime could not deport her. She spent five years in solitary confinement but did not break. There is always a smile on her face”.

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Women contribute socially, economically and culturally, yet their voices are not adequately reflected in governance. Increasing women’s participation strengthens democracy and inclusive development,’’ the seasoned parliamentarian stated.

Jagne, served in The Gambia’s parliament from 2007 to 2017 and concurrently represented the country at the ECOWAS Parliament from 2007 to 2015. In 2010, she became the first President of ECOFEPA, transforming it into a structured regional platform for female lawmakers across West Africa.

At the national level, she was among the few women elected through the ballot in 2007 and notably seconded the landmark Women’s Act 2010, which strengthened legal protections for women.

She challenged political parties to remove structural barriers, reduce high nomination fees, and adopt gender quotas to increase female representation.

Similarly, she called for more opportunities to enhance women’s inclusion in politics, while also urging for mentorship and training opportunities so as to create safer internal party environments for women aspirants,

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Exile Hub is one of Global Voices’ partners in Southeast Asia, emerging in response to the 2021 coup in Myanmar, focusing on empowering journalists and human rights defenders. This edited article is republished under a content partnership agreement.

As a Burmese filmmaker shaped by her grandmother’s quiet defiance, Verse uses storytelling to challenge gender bias and uplift women whose voices are too often erased.

Verse began her professional journey in 2018 as a reporter at a local news agency in Myanmar. She dreamed of covering political news, but quickly encountered systemic gender bias. During a major assignment, male reporters were sent to Nay Pyi Taw to cover parliament-related matters, and she was told to stay behind.

She recalled the moment: “I was told women weren’t given those opportunities. I could not accept a workplace that denied my growth simply because I was a woman.”

She left journalism and joined a women’s rights organization, shifting her focus to human rights and feminist advocacy.

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