Skip to main content

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.

Show on Home Page
Yes
Image
Icon
Banner Image

Nigeria, democracy, women leaders and political tokenism

Back
June 29, 2023

Nigeria, democracy, women leaders and political tokenism

The inauguration of  legislative assemblies in the states and at the federal level has been completed.  The data is in and it shows that less Nigerian women were elected into the legislature at all levels.

The inauguration of  legislative assemblies in the states and at the federal level has been completed.  The data is in and it shows that less Nigerian women were elected into the legislature at all levels.

Zimbabwe lags behind in women’s political participation

Back
June 29, 2023

Zimbabwe lags behind in women’s political participation

Zimbabwe is set to hold its general elections on August 23, nut no women will be on the ballot for the presidential race.

Zimbabwe is set to hold its general elections on August 23, nut no women will be on the ballot for the presidential race.

100 years on, politics is where the U.S. lags most on gender equality

Back
June 29, 2023

100 years on, politics is where the U.S. lags most on gender equality

A century on from women winning the right to vote in the U.S., our nation has made huge progress on many fronts. But plenty more is needed—and above all in the political sphere. The U.S.

A century on from women winning the right to vote in the U.S., our nation has made huge progress on many fronts. But plenty more is needed—and above all in the political sphere. The U.S.

The long road to gender equality: overcoming institutional resistance to change

Back
June 28, 2023

The long road to gender equality: overcoming institutional resistance to change

In recent weeks, media coverage out of Australia’s national Parliament has been dominated by the unedifying spectacle of political point-scoring over the leaked phone messages of former political staffer and victim of alleged rape, Brittany Higgins.

In recent weeks, media coverage out of Australia’s national Parliament has been dominated by the unedifying spectacle of political point-scoring over the leaked phone messages of former political staffer and victim of alleged rape, Brittany Higgins.

June 28, 2023
Czech Republic: New project aims to protect female politicians against hate speech

#StopHate is a project focusing on the problem of hateful attacks against women who are active in politics and public life, aiming to gather information from female academics, politicians, activists and journalists about their experience and contribu

Is Harris truly unpopular or is that the price of being a female politician?

Back
June 28, 2023

Is Harris truly unpopular or is that the price of being a female politician?

She's next in line to the presidency. But a new poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris is anything but popular. In fact, she has one of the worst approval ratings for a VP since polls started measuring that.

She's next in line to the presidency. But a new poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris is anything but popular. In fact, she has one of the worst approval ratings for a VP since polls started measuring that.

Australia: media don’t help. They enable violence against women and fuel the backlash

Back
June 23, 2023

Australia: media don’t help. They enable violence against women and fuel the backlash

Nearly six years after the #MeToo movement arrived in Australia, and more than a decade after the launch of the first national plan to reduce violence against women, those

Nearly six years after the #MeToo movement arrived in Australia, and more than a decade after the launch of the first national plan to reduce violence against women, those

Parliaments play a crucial role in women’s equal right to participate

Back
June 23, 2023

Parliaments play a crucial role in women’s equal right to participate

Women of all ages, backgrounds and ideologies across the globe are pushing to be part of the decision-making process, despite the odds stacked against their participation.

Women of all ages, backgrounds and ideologies across the globe are pushing to be part of the decision-making process, despite the odds stacked against their participation.

Ghana: ‘Only 40 women MPs out of 275 is a foul cry; it’s disappointing’ — Speaker Bagbin bemoans

Back
June 21, 2023

Ghana: ‘Only 40 women MPs out of 275 is a foul cry; it’s disappointing’ — Speaker Bagbin bemoans

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has expressed his disappointment with the low representation of women in Ghana’s parliament, describing it as a

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has expressed his disappointment with the low representation of women in Ghana’s parliament, describing it as a