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
November 16, 2018
India: Kavitha roots for women in politics

Member of Parliament K. Kavitha has pitched for passage of women’s reservation bill in the Parliament as a disruptive short-term solution to reduce male dominance in various sectors, including politics.

Interviews

November 7, 2018
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wins, becoming youngest woman ever elected to the US Congress

Progressive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her race for a U.S. House seat in New York’s 14th District on Tuesday, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

November 5, 2018
Joenia Wapichana: Brazil's first indigenous woman voted to Congress

Sao Paulo - Joenia Wapichana never thought she would get into politics.

The 43-year-old indigenous lawyer also never imagined she'd make history, not just once but on three occasions.

November 5, 2018
Female politicians from around world mark century of UK women’s suffrage

A young Bosnian MP who denounced her uncle’s war crimes, a member of the Syrian opposition and a Gambian women’s rights campaigner are among the female parliamentarians who will sit in the House of Commons chamber this week.

Interviews

In the words of Tanya Gilly Khailany: “When it comes to women’s rights, there’s no room for diplomacy”

Back
October 23, 2018

In the words of Tanya Gilly Khailany: “When it comes to women’s rights, there’s no room for diplomacy”

Tanya Gilly Khailany, from Iraqi-Kurdistan, is a former member of the Iraqi Parliament (2006 – 2010) and a co-founder of the SEED Foundation, an organization that works with survivors of violence and trafficking in Iraq.

Tanya Gilly Khailany, from Iraqi-Kurdistan, is a former member of the Iraqi Parliament (2006 – 2010) and a co-founder of the SEED Foundation, an organization that works with survivors of violence and trafficking in Iraq.

October 22, 2018
In the words of Tanya Gilly Khailany: “When it comes to women’s rights, there’s no room for diplomacy”

Tanya Gilly Khailany, from Iraqi-Kurdistan, is a former member of the Iraqi Parliament (2006 – 2010) and a co-founder of the SEED Foundation, an organization that works with survivors of violence and trafficking in Iraq.

Sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments in Europe

Back
October 16, 2018

Sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments in Europe

This regional study seeks to take the initial findings of a 2016 IPU report further, focusing specifically on the situation in parliaments in Europe.

This regional study seeks to take the initial findings of a 2016 IPU report further, focusing specifically on the situation in parliaments in Europe.