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.
As a response to gender norms that continue to work against women’s entry into politics, 50 women across the eight provinces of the Solomon Islands are currently gathered in Honiara for the Second Practice Parliament for Women.
By Margaret Talbot,
Liberia and Africa's first ever female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has jetted in the country to engage the parliamentary women caucus and committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs on gender related issues.
House Republicans have doubled the number of female candidates they have recruited to run for congressional seats this year as they seek to hold their majority and counter accusations of a gender gap with Democrats.
By Amanda Clayton and Pär Zetterberg,
By Amanda Clayton and Pär Zetterberg,
The historic wave of women running for Congress and governor this year already has landed 78 women on November ballots in several states.
The City of Banjul made history by electing its first female mayor.
Japan's parliament on Wednesday passed a law to encourage female candidates to stand for elections in a country where women are vastly underrepresented in politics.