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.
Political parties must run more female candidates in a “meaningful and serious way” while not all women are “political animals”, the Oireachtas committee on children, equality, disability, integration and youth has heard.
Increasing the proportion of women in political decision-making has long been an admirable goal in peacebuilding and development.
ULINGO have awarded President Hussein Mwinyi for his role in developing Zanzibar including promoting gender equality.
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