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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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13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament Report

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December 22, 2021

13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament Report

The 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament (13SWSP) was held on 6 September 2021 in Vienna (Austria) on the theme Women at the centre: From confronting the pandemic to preserving achievements in gender-responsive recovery.

The 13th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament (13SWSP) was held on 6 September 2021 in Vienna (Austria) on the theme Women at the centre: From confronting the pandemic to preserving achievements in gender-responsive recovery.

Liberal facade hides Lebanon’s patriarchy - Eurasia Review
December 22, 2021
Liberal facade hides Lebanon’s patriarchy

Despite its apparent liberalism, Lebanon scores low in gender equality, especially in politics.

Adams names all-women slate of deputy mayors - copyright: Spectrum News NY1
December 21, 2021
In New York City, Adams names all-women slate of deputy mayors

Lorraine Grillo was named as first deputy mayor; Anne Williams-Isom as deputy mayor for health and human services; Meera Joshi as deputy mayor for operations; Maria Torres-Springer as deputy mayor for economic and workforce development; and Sheena Wright as deputy may

December 20, 2021
Zimbabwe: end gender-based violence in politics

The United Nations has rallied the nation to stamp out widespread violence against women in politics (VAWP) across the country’s political divide during election period.

Realizing gender equality in parliament: A guide for parliaments in the OSCE region

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December 20, 2021

Realizing gender equality in parliament: A guide for parliaments in the OSCE region

This practical guide is intended to support the full range of parliamentary actors — from parliamentary leadership teams, members of parliament, and political and parliamentary staff, to parliamentary practitioners and civil society organizations dealing with gender e

This practical guide is intended to support the full range of parliamentary actors — from parliamentary leadership teams, members of parliament, and political and parliamentary staff, to parliamentary practitioners and civil society organizations dealing with gender e

December 17, 2021
Mentorship and leadership programme for women parliamentarians launched in Uganda

The British High Commission, in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), UN Women and the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) on December 07 launched the second cohort of their mentorship

Women politicians are under siege  -  4.Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Kevin Dietsch, Stefani Reynolds, and Alex Wong/Getty Images
December 17, 2021
Women politicians are under siege

Women in Congress feel besieged and singled-out amid surging threats against lawmakers at all levels, with some frustrated more hasn't been done to halt the trend.

Rep.-elect Angie Craig, left, joined other women in the freshman class of Congress for a group photo on Capitol Hill on Nov. 14, 2018 - Star Tribune
December 16, 2021
Women in Minnesota politics face growing threats and intimidation

The threats arrive by mail, email, voicemail and social media. Hateful comments are shouted out of a car window or in line at the grocery store. More than ever before, the threats come home, in the form of protests or strangers circling the block.