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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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How women are banding together to change Japanese politics

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September 20, 2022

How women are banding together to change Japanese politics

On a sweltering day in July, Yoshii Aya, still reeling from her bitter election defeat a few months prior, arrived in Kyoto with a stack of leftover business cards tailored for that bygone race.

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On a sweltering day in July, Yoshii Aya, still reeling from her bitter election defeat a few months prior, arrived in Kyoto with a stack of leftover business cards tailored for that bygone race.

Canadians want parties and governments to act on gender parity in politics

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September 19, 2022

Canadians want parties and governments to act on gender parity in politics

Canadians want parties and governments to act on gender parity in politics.

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Canadians want parties and governments to act on gender parity in politics.

Take Five: Key questions about women in local politics

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September 19, 2022

Take Five: Key questions about women in local politics

It’s been 129 years since women won the right to vote, but as Aotearoa begins voting in this year’s local body elections it’s clear we still have a long way to go.

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It’s been 129 years since women won the right to vote, but as Aotearoa begins voting in this year’s local body elections it’s clear we still have a long way to go.

World News

How to mitigate these five threats to democracy

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How to mitigate these five threats to democracy

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Democratization is under pressure across the globe. Here are five major threats to democracy, and how to mitigate them.

Democracy is as precarious as it is precious. Some 25 years after the IPU issued its Universal Declaration on Democracy, its principles continue to be challenged and eroded by corruption, populism and autocracy. But there are other, more insidious threats to democracy that have become more apparent at this particular moment in world history. 

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How to mitigate these five threats to democracy (IPU)

Democratization is under pressure across the globe. Here are five major threats to democracy, and how to mitigate them.

Democracy is as precarious as it is precious. Some 25 years after the IPU issued its Universal Declaration on Democracy, its principles continue to be challenged and eroded by corruption, populism and autocracy. But there are other, more insidious threats to democracy that have become more apparent at this particular moment in world history. 

14th Summit of women speakers of parliament (Video)

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September 14, 2022

14th Summit of women speakers of parliament (Video)

The 14th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament (14SWSP), convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in close cooperation with the Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly) of Uzbekistan, took place in-person, in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), from 8 to 9 September 2022.

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The 14th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament (14SWSP), convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in close cooperation with the Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly) of Uzbekistan, took place in-person, in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), from 8 to 9 September 2022.

Senegal leads way on women legislators but challenges ahead

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September 12, 2022

Senegal leads way on women legislators but challenges ahead

Senegal will break new ground Monday as West Africa's largest-ever proportion of women MPs take their seats in a newly elected legislature, stirring hopes of change in a country where patriarchal laws and attitudes are entrenched.

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Aminata Touré, ancienne Première ministre du Sénégal et nouvelle députée, dans sa maison de Dakar, le 8 septembre 2022 afp.com - JOHN WESSELS

Senegal will break new ground Monday as West Africa's largest-ever proportion of women MPs take their seats in a newly elected legislature, stirring hopes of change in a country where patriarchal laws and attitudes are entrenched.

World News

India: Ex-MLA Bijimol opens up on trauma inflicted by anti-woman colleagues in CPI

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India: Ex-MLA Bijimol opens up on trauma inflicted by anti-woman colleagues in CPI

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ES Bijimol, a three-time MLA of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has said she suffered moral attacks and degradation from her male colleagues for daring to contest in a male bastion.

The former legislator from Peermade in Kerala’s Idukki district put out a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday to share her bad experience. 

The other day, the CPI elected K Salimkumar as its Idukki district secretary, Bijimol, in her post, said she had also been nominated for the position.

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ES Bijimol, a three-time MLA of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has said she suffered moral attacks and degradation from her male colleagues for daring to contest in a male bastion.

The former legislator from Peermade in Kerala’s Idukki district put out a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday to share her bad experience. 

The other day, the CPI elected K Salimkumar as its Idukki district secretary, Bijimol, in her post, said she had also been nominated for the position.

World News

Five things to know about Women Speakers of Parliament

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Five things to know about Women Speakers of Parliament

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It’s no secret that women have had to put up a tenacious fight to be seen and heard in  politics worldwide. As late as 2005, the number of women in parliament speaker posts stood at just over 8 per cent worldwide, reflecting a considerable lack of female representation. Although that number has increased, women still account for just 23 per cent of parliamentary speakers around the world today according to the latest IPU figures.

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It’s no secret that women have had to put up a tenacious fight to be seen and heard in  politics worldwide. As late as 2005, the number of women in parliament speaker posts stood at just over 8 per cent worldwide, reflecting a considerable lack of female representation. Although that number has increased, women still account for just 23 per cent of parliamentary speakers around the world today according to the latest IPU figures.

World News

Tasmanian parliamentary staff exposed to sexual harassment, abuse and degrading behaviour, review finds

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Tasmanian parliamentary staff exposed to sexual harassment, abuse and degrading behaviour, review finds

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Tasmanian ministerial and parliamentary staff are being subjected to degrading, belittling and abusive behaviour, including exposure of body parts and indecent phone calls, with MPs and managers the worst offenders, a review has found.

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Tasmanian ministerial and parliamentary staff are being subjected to degrading, belittling and abusive behaviour, including exposure of body parts and indecent phone calls, with MPs and managers the worst offenders, a review has found.

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