Parliaments & Representatives

Women make up only 23.5% of Members of Parliament according to the latest available data of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. While significant strides in women’s political participation have been made since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995, which set Member States’ target of achieving gender balance in political decision-making, women are still underrepresented in political decision-making at all levels and gender balance remains an aspirational goal. Gains in women’s participation have been notable in countries that have taken proactive steps to support women’s political participation, including reforming or amending discriminatory laws, taking concrete action to address violence against women in politics and gender discrimination within parliaments, addressing gender-specific barriers, and supporting women in all forms of decision-making including at local level and in executive government.

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World News

The Only Female Minister in Syria’s New Government Wants to ‘Get Things Done’

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 05/08/2025 - 08:08

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The Only Female Minister in Syria’s New Government Wants to ‘Get Things Done’

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Hind Kabawat, the only female minister in Syria’s new government, in her house, in Bab Touma, a majority Christian neighborhood of Damascus. Hind Kabawat hopes her long experience as a conflict mediator can help Syria’s next generation. The challenges are immense.Hind Kabawat, the only female minister in Syria’s new government, in her house, in Bab Touma, a majority Christian neighborhood of Damascus.

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Income and gender disparities in India still significant, says UNDP

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 05/08/2025 - 03:33

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Income and gender disparities in India still significant, says UNDP

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NEW DELHI: India moved up three places to be ranked 130th among 193 countries in the Human Development Index rankings for 2023 due to progress made in improving life expectancy through health sector initiatives, and sustained improvements in key dimensions of human development, particularly in mean years of schooling and national income per capita.

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Growing threats faced by women candidates undermine our democracy

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 04/17/2025 - 07:26

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Growing threats faced by women candidates undermine our democracy

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As Liberal MP Pam Damoff prepares to leave politics, she joins other Canadian women MPs in warning that growing threats and harassment are driving them out of politics.

As Liberal MP Pam Damoff prepares to leave politics, she joins other Canadian women MPs in warning that growing threats and harassment are driving them out of politics.

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Women's campaigners celebrate court win - but what will it change?

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 04/17/2025 - 07:24

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Women's campaigners celebrate court win - but what will it change?

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The UK Supreme Court has unanimously and unambiguously backed the argument that the definition of a woman in the Equality Act should be based on biological sex.

Reading out the ruling, Lord Hodge cautioned that it should not be taken as a triumph for one group in society over another.

But there were scenes of jubilation for women's campaigners outside the Supreme Court.

The UK Supreme Court has unanimously and unambiguously backed the argument that the definition of a woman in the Equality Act should be based on biological sex.

Reading out the ruling, Lord Hodge cautioned that it should not be taken as a triumph for one group in society over another.

But there were scenes of jubilation for women's campaigners outside the Supreme Court.

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Damning study of online abuse of female MPs shows urgent legal reform is needed

Submitted by Editor on Tue, 04/15/2025 - 03:38

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Damning study of online abuse of female MPs shows urgent legal reform is needed

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THREE KEY FACTS

THREE KEY FACTS

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Germany’s New Parliament Is Sworn In, but Where Are the Women?

Submitted by Editor on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 10:19

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Germany’s New Parliament Is Sworn In, but Where Are the Women?

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Two days after a coalition of conservatives won Germany’s federal election last month, the governor of Bavaria took to Instagram to say the parties were “ready for political change” and posted a group picture of the likely future chancellor, Friedrich Merz, with five other leaders.

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Violence and sexist harassment against female MPs ‘rife across Asia-Pacific’

Submitted by Editor on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 10:11

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Violence and sexist harassment against female MPs ‘rife across Asia-Pacific’

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Sexism, harassment and violence against women are rife in parliaments across the Asia-Pacific region, according to a damning report published on Tuesday that lays bare the scale of abuse faced by women in politics.

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Women in Asia-Pacific politics reveal alarming level of gender-based violence they face

Submitted by Editor on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 10:04

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Women in Asia-Pacific politics reveal alarming level of gender-based violence they face

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Women in dozens of parliaments across the Asia-Pacific are experiencing significant levels of abuse, violence and harassment, a new report has found, with online abuse a key issue.

Women in dozens of parliaments across the Asia-Pacific are experiencing significant levels of abuse, violence and harassment, a new report has found, with online abuse a key issue.

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Japanese politician gets 8,000 death threats over call for sanitary pads in public toilets

Submitted by Editor on Fri, 04/11/2025 - 09:56

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Japanese politician gets 8,000 death threats over call for sanitary pads in public toilets

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A female Japanese politician has received about 8,000 emails containing death threats after proposing free sanitary pads in public toilets – a wave of online abuse that experts say reflects a deeper pattern of gender-based harassment aiming to silence outspoken women.

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