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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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November 1, 2021
Trudeau shuffles Canadian cabinet, maintains gender balance

Maintaining that he intends to lead his party into the next election, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday overhauled his gender balanced cabinet, naming women to the foreign affairs and defense posts.

September 22, 2021
Japan takes step toward first female leader as two women run

Two women are in contention to become prime minister of Japan for the first time in its history — a potential turning point for a country that ranks below Saudi Arabia in terms of female political representation.

September 13, 2021
Mexico’s bold break with machismo: Congress is now half female, and gender parity is the law

HERMOSILLO, Mexico — When Claudia Pavlovich ran for governor of Sonora, a vast swath of cowboy country south of Arizona, not a single Mexican state was led by a woman. Fewer than 10 percent of the nation’s mayors were female.

September 13, 2021
India: 25 years on, Women’s Reservation Bill still not a reality

India ranks 148th in a list of 193 countries based on the percentage of elected women representatives in their national parliaments.

La cheffe du Conseil mohawk de Kahnawake récemment élue, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer  PHOTO : RADIO-CANADA / IVANOH DEMERS
August 9, 2021
Indigenous leaders praise historic election victories by women

It's no coincidence that a wave of Indigenous women have won leadership roles previously held only by men, say leaders and advocates.