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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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April 3, 2018
Dutch MP quits: blames not being able to combine parliament with motherhood

A Socialist Party MP is leaving parliament because she does not feel she can combine her work as a parliamentarian with being a mother.

March 28, 2018
Italy's new parliament is younger, more diverse and more female

Italy may not have a government yet, but it does have nearly 1,000 new legislators.

March 28, 2018
United States Senate’s female members push for harassment vote

The Senate's 22 female members joined together Wednesday in a bipartisan push for their leaders to overhaul its workplace misconduct rules, airing "deep disappointment" that the chamber hasn't already moved.

March 22, 2018
Cook Islands Women Parliamentarians Caucus to Boost Equal Representation

This article was published by UNDP on March 8, 2018.

March 19, 2018
Almost half of women in politics have faced abuse or violence

Global survey ahead of London summit finds 44% faced serious abuse, including threats of murder, rape and assault.

March 19, 2018
Marielle Franco, Brazilian politician and critic of police brutality, murdered

Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco was on her way home Wednesday evening when she and her driver were shot and killed on the road.

March 12, 2018
IPU celebrates International Women’s Day and calls for action to advance gender equality

Statement by Senator Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

March 2, 2018
Nicola Sturgeon shocked by Holyrood survey on sexism and abuse

Nicola Sturgeon has reacted with disappointment to a survey that found that one in five Holyrood staff and one in three women had experienced sexual harassment or sexist behaviou

March 2, 2018
Highlights of IPU's Women in Parliament in 2017 Report

Global highlights