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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World News

After DMK functionary’s derogatory remark against women, Kanimozhi apologises: “This can never be tolerated”

Submitted by Editor on Mon, 10/31/2022 - 05:26

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After DMK functionary’s derogatory remark against women, Kanimozhi apologises: “This can never be tolerated”

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Saidai Sadiq said that unlike the DMK, BJP depended on the "actresses" to make inroads into Tamil Nadu.

Lok Sabha MP and DMK leader Kanimozhi Thursday issued an apology after a party functionary made a derogatory remark against women BJP leaders, prompting an angry reaction from actor-politician Khushbu Sundar.

Saidai Sadiq said that unlike the DMK, BJP depended on the "actresses" to make inroads into Tamil Nadu.

World News

Attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband follows years of GOP demonizing her

Submitted by Editor on Mon, 10/31/2022 - 05:13

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Attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband follows years of GOP demonizing her

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A man with right-wing views who broke into the House speaker’s home yelled “Where is Nancy?” before assaulting Paul Pelosi with a hammer, police say.

In 2010, Republicans launched a “Fire Pelosi” project — complete with a bus tour, a #FIREPELOSI hashtag and images of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) engulfed in Hades-style flames — devoted to retaking the House and demoting Pelosi from her perch as speaker.

A man with right-wing views who broke into the House speaker’s home yelled “Where is Nancy?” before assaulting Paul Pelosi with a hammer, police say.

How gender quotas broaden the political agenda

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October 27, 2022

How gender quotas broaden the political agenda

In 2013, a Christian democratic politician from Belgium and I sat down in her office in the Senate, the upper house of the federal parliament in Brussels. The senator recalled a long battle within her party to get more women candidates on party lists.

World News

New Zealand’s Parliament becomes majority female — "about blimmin’ time"

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 10/27/2022 - 04:10

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New Zealand’s Parliament becomes majority female — "about blimmin’ time"

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New Zealand made history — or herstory — this week as female lawmakers became the majority, narrowly outnumbering their male counterparts in Parliament for the first time.

On Tuesday, Soraya Peke-Mason was sworn in as a lawmaker for the Labour Party, tipping the country’s legislative body to 60 women and 59 men.

New Zealand made history — or herstory — this week as female lawmakers became the majority, narrowly outnumbering their male counterparts in Parliament for the first time.

On Tuesday, Soraya Peke-Mason was sworn in as a lawmaker for the Labour Party, tipping the country’s legislative body to 60 women and 59 men.

World News

Vanuatu to welcome first female MP since 2008 after snap election

Submitted by Editor on Mon, 10/24/2022 - 05:02

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Vanuatu to welcome first female MP since 2008 after snap election

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Vanuatu Election Commission yet to declare official results but Julia King likely to be lone female voice in 52-member parliament.

Votes are still being counted in Vanuatu’s snap election, but with the preliminary votes tallied, one change seems certain: Vanuatu’s all-male parliament is no more, with the first woman elected to office since 2008 likely to be announced within days.

Vanuatu Election Commission yet to declare official results but Julia King likely to be lone female voice in 52-member parliament.

World News

Gender-sensitive parliaments can help end conflicts – IPU president

Submitted by Editor on Fri, 10/21/2022 - 06:54

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Gender-sensitive parliaments can help end conflicts – IPU president

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More women parliamentarians can play a major role in addressing global security conflicts, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) president, Duarte Pacheco, has said.

Speaking Monday October 11, at a press conference on the side-lines of the ongoing IPU’s 145th assembly taking place in Kigali, Pacheco said gender-equal parliaments have the power to influence decisions that can prevent wars.

More women parliamentarians can play a major role in addressing global security conflicts, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) president, Duarte Pacheco, has said.

How did Rwanda become no.1 for gender equality?

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October 21, 2022

How did Rwanda become no.1 for gender equality?

In 2008, the Rwanda Chamber of Deputies was the first elected national parliament where women were the majority. The proportion of MPs who are women is at 61.25% today, way above the current global average of 26.4%.

Effective and inclusive parliaments

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October 21, 2022

Effective and inclusive parliaments

Ensuring GSP principles are embedded in political institutions is vital for a healthy democracy. It highlights that women’s inclusion and equality does not just stop at the ballot box.