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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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‘It can be done’: How a strong female crossbench could challenge Australian politics

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February 23, 2022

‘It can be done’: How a strong female crossbench could challenge Australian politics

By Jo Dyer

As disillusionment with the Morrison government grows, a new generation of independents is emerging to run against the system itself.

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By Jo Dyer

As disillusionment with the Morrison government grows, a new generation of independents is emerging to run against the system itself.

Gender-sensitive parliaments: Beyond the add women and stir approach in Wales

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February 21, 2022

Gender-sensitive parliaments: Beyond the add women and stir approach in Wales

Every decision a parliamentarian makes is a chance to advance gender equality. From choosing a topic for an oversight inquiry to drafting legislative amendments, gender-sensitive scrutiny can help bring inequalities to the surface and find remedies.

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Every decision a parliamentarian makes is a chance to advance gender equality. From choosing a topic for an oversight inquiry to drafting legislative amendments, gender-sensitive scrutiny can help bring inequalities to the surface and find remedies.

A quick guide to gender-sensitive scrutiny in Malaysia

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February 18, 2022

A quick guide to gender-sensitive scrutiny in Malaysia

This guide is designed to help Members and staff of the Parliament of Malaysia undertake gender-sensitive scrutiny of laws, budgets, and policies.

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This guide is designed to help Members and staff of the Parliament of Malaysia undertake gender-sensitive scrutiny of laws, budgets, and policies.

A quick guide to gender-sensitive scrutiny in Bhutan

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February 17, 2022

A quick guide to gender-sensitive scrutiny in Bhutan

This guide is designed to help Members and staff of the Parliament of Bhutan undertake gender-sensitive scrutiny of laws, budgets, and policies.

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This guide is designed to help Members and staff of the Parliament of Bhutan undertake gender-sensitive scrutiny of laws, budgets, and policies.

World News

Women hold record number of Australian Government board positions

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Women hold record number of Australian Government board positions

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The Morrison Government has welcomed the latest Gender Balance on Government Boards figures, which show that for the first time, more than half of Australian Government board positions are held by women.

Women now hold a record 50.2 per cent of Australian Government board positions, the highest overall result since targets were announced in 2016. It is an 8.5 percentage point increase from 30 June 2013, when women held only 41.7 per cent of Australian Government board positions.

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The Morrison Government has welcomed the latest Gender Balance on Government Boards figures, which show that for the first time, more than half of Australian Government board positions are held by women.

Women now hold a record 50.2 per cent of Australian Government board positions, the highest overall result since targets were announced in 2016. It is an 8.5 percentage point increase from 30 June 2013, when women held only 41.7 per cent of Australian Government board positions.

Women are more likely to get elected to local bodies than to national parliaments

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February 16, 2022

Women are more likely to get elected to local bodies than to national parliaments

By Akshi Chawla

As women elected officials move from local politics towards the subnational and national levels, they begin to be replaced by more and more men.

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By Akshi Chawla

As women elected officials move from local politics towards the subnational and national levels, they begin to be replaced by more and more men.

Representative budgeting: women mayors and the composition of spending in local governments

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February 16, 2022

Representative budgeting: women mayors and the composition of spending in local governments

One potential consequence of increasing women’s numeric representation is that women elected officials will behave differently than their men counterparts and improve women’s substantive representation.

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One potential consequence of increasing women’s numeric representation is that women elected officials will behave differently than their men counterparts and improve women’s substantive representation.

World News

Scotland launches women’s audit to look at barriers to entering Holyrood

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Scotland launches women’s audit to look at barriers to entering Holyrood

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Exclusive: presiding officer Alison Johnstone says it will be disappointing if parliament cannot attract more female politicians.

It will be “really disappointing” if the Scottish parliament cannot attract more female politicians within the next five years, says Holyrood’s presiding officer, as she launches Holyrood’s first women’s audit to investigate barriers to representation and participation.

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Exclusive: presiding officer Alison Johnstone says it will be disappointing if parliament cannot attract more female politicians.

It will be “really disappointing” if the Scottish parliament cannot attract more female politicians within the next five years, says Holyrood’s presiding officer, as she launches Holyrood’s first women’s audit to investigate barriers to representation and participation.

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