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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We need to push harder for women’s representation in leadership

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January 10, 2023

We need to push harder for women’s representation in leadership

More than 50 percent of the U.S. population is female, so it begs the question: Why are we still so underrepresented in politics?

January 10, 2023

118th Congress has a record number of women

Women make up more than a quarter (28%) of all members of the 118th Congress – the highest percentage in U.S. history and a considerable increase from where things stood even a decade ago.

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December 16, 2022

Jamaica: House approves motion for caucus of women parliamentarians

The motion to establish a women's caucus comprising lawmakers from both Houses of Parliament was approved during the sitting of the House of Representatives today.

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Fight to get Fijian women in politics

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December 14, 2022

Fight to get Fijian women in politics

Fijian women remain severely under-represented in politics.

A session in the Senegal Parliament, CARMEN ABD ALI / AFP

December 6, 2022

IPU statement on violence in the Senegal Parliament

The IPU condemns in the strongest possible terms the violence that took place in the Senegal National Assembly this week, committed by two parliamentarians, Mr. Yewi Askanwi and Mr. Moustapha Sy, against a pregnant parliamentarian, Ms. Gniby Amy Ndiaye.

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December 6, 2022

Indonesian parliament calls for urgent action to end violence against women in politics

Jakarta, Indonesia – The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus of the Republic of Indonesia signed a declaration today to “condemn any form of gender-based violence that hinders women from fulfilling their equal rights” and to urge all groups to allow wom

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December 5, 2022

Politician slaps a woman MP in Senegal parliament, sparking brawlà l’Assemblée

Tensions have grown between ruling and opposition politicians since legislative elections in July when leading coalition lost its comfortable majority.

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