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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International Idea's GSoD In Focus: Political gender equality and the global state of democracy indices

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March 21, 2019

International Idea's GSoD In Focus: Political gender equality and the global state of democracy indices

This GSoD In Focus showcases global and regional data around trends in and the progression of gender equality, based on data from the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Indices.

Women in Politics Map 2019

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March 12, 2019

Women in Politics Map 2019

This map is a unique visual tool that captures women’s participation in executive government and in parliament on a given date—1st January 2019.

Women in parliament in 2018: The year in review

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March 5, 2019

Women in parliament in 2018: The year in review

The annual report provides an update and analysis of progress made and setbacks encountered by women in parliament further to elections and renewals held over a year.

March 5, 2019

New IPU report shows well-designed quotas lead to significantly more women MPs

According to the IPU’s yearly analysis, the share of women in national parliaments increased by nearly one percentage point last year, from 23.

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March 5, 2019

Nigeria: Women who will shape the ninth Senate

When the Ninth Senate of Nigeria is inaugurated in June, there will be at least no fewer than seven women in the 109-member chamber, if the results of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections are anything to go.

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How will women fare in Solomon Islands elections?

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March 1, 2019

How will women fare in Solomon Islands elections?

By Kerryn Baker

Barriers to Women Entering Parliament and Local Government in the United Kingdom

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February 28, 2019

Barriers to Women Entering Parliament and Local Government in the United Kingdom

In January 2018, the Government Equalities Office (GEO) commissioned this rapid evidence review, the two broad aims of which were to identify: a) barriers to women’s participation in local and

Representation Matters: Women in the U.S. Congress

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February 26, 2019

Representation Matters: Women in the U.S. Congress

The importance of having women serving in Congress is still not fully appreciated or understood.

Path to Parity: How Women Run and Win in the United States

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February 26, 2019

Path to Parity: How Women Run and Win in the United States

Path to Parity: How Women Run and Win distills Political Parity’s research on women candidates and elected officeholders, drawing on additional studies to illuminate issues and proffer strategies

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