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.
The Women’s Quota Act of 2023 has officially been implemented, marking a significant step towards increased representation of women in legislative bodies.
The discourse surrounding the Women’s Reservation Bill, or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, shows how masculine politics has weaponised women’s issues.
Sustainable development, responsive governance and inclusive democracy all depend on women's equitable engagement and representation in politics.
The Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL) will, from today, April 15, 2026, begin rolling out of series of community consultations and town hall engagements across eight of Liberia’s fifteen counties, aimed at advancing women’s political participation and promoting electoral legal reform.
THIMPHU – In 2016, when Kinley Zangmo first put her name forward for the Mangmi post in Talo Gewog, Punakha, many still whispered that politics was a man’s domain.
He said, “I was told that the British High Commission is a major sponsor of this programme. I had the opportunity of meeting with the Deputy High Commissioner when she visited Bayelsa last week, and we discussed women participation in politics.
Speaker of the Parliament of Tasmania, the Hon. Jacquie Petrusma MP, and Deputy Speaker Helen Burnet MP have combined to launch the state's Pathways to Politics for Women program for 2026.