Skip to main content

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.

Show on Home Page
Yes
Image
Icon
Banner Image
https://www.undp.org/moldova/press-releases/fair-representation-decision-making-policy-papers-strengthen-involvement-women-and-persons-disabilities
June 23, 2026
Fair representation in decision-making: policy papers to strengthen the involvement of women and persons with disabilities

After three consecutive electoral cycles in which the double-quota system (the mechanism guaranteeing a minimum of 40% gender representation on candidate lists) brought a record number of women into Parliament and local councils, the political representation of other vulnerable groups r

https://globalvoices.org/2026/06/18/can-the-special-seats-bill-deliver-the-gender-parity-nigeria-needs/
June 19, 2026
Can the Special Seats Bill deliver the gender parity Nigeria needs?

Hundreds of women rallied in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, on June 11, urging

https://www.daily-sun.com/diplomacy/880810/speaker-un-women-discuss-advancing-gender-equality-and-women-s-political-leadership
June 19, 2026
UN Women discuss advancing gender equality and women’s political leadership

Speaker of the National Parliament Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, MP, on Wednesday held a courtesy meeting with a delegation from UN Women to discuss measures aimed at advancing women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality in Bangladesh.

https://en.hespress.com/139955-moroccan-womens-rights-groups-criticize-low-number-of-female-candidates-leading-2026-election-lists.html
June 17, 2026
Moroccan Women’s Rights Groups criticize low number of female candidates leading 2026 election lists

Moroccan women’s rights organizations have criticized political parties over the limited number of women selected to head electoral lists for the September 2026 parliamentary elections, arguing that the nominations fall short of the country’s constitutional commitm

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/09/australia-politics-female-mp-misogyny-sexist-abuse-every-day
June 11, 2026
I face sexist abuse every day as a female MP – misogyny is unacceptable whatever side of the aisle we’re on

Like most households, mine has a morning routine.

As we wait for our baby to wake, my partner makes me a coffee and I open an app designed to shield me from the worst of the internet. It has become as routine as checking my emails.

https://www.namibian.com.na/online-trolling-silences-women-in-politics-says-theofelus/
June 5, 2026
Online trolling silences women in politics, says Theofelus

Online trolling and harassment are increasingly affecting how women participate in politics in Namibia, with some politicians saying the abuse has led to self-censorship, anxiety and reduced engagement on public platforms.

https://armenianweekly.com/2026/06/02/the-limits-of-gender-quotas-in-armenias-male-dominated-politics/
June 5, 2026
The limits of gender quotas in Armenia’s male-dominated politics

As Armenia moves toward another electoral cycle, the issue of women’s political participation has once again returned to the center of public debate.

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/05.03.2026-women-still-under-represented-in-european-politics-despite-improving-trend.a636920/
June 1, 2026
Women still under-represented in European politics, despite improving trend
In 2025, women held 33.6% of the seats in national parliaments across the EU, marking a 5.4