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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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Women in Parliament in 2020: The year in review

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March 5, 2021

Women in Parliament in 2020: The year in review

Elections in 2020 were profoundly marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in delays and cancellations, logistical challenges for candidates and election administrators and often low turnout.

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Elections in 2020 were profoundly marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in delays and cancellations, logistical challenges for candidates and election administrators and often low turnout.

Future is female, but why are women leaders missing from India's political arena?

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March 3, 2021

Future is female, but why are women leaders missing from India's political arena?

The recent election of Kamala Harris as the first woman vice president of America has ignited the aspirations of countless women in politics globally.

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The recent election of Kamala Harris as the first woman vice president of America has ignited the aspirations of countless women in politics globally.

March 2, 2021
Liberia: Deputy Speaker Vows to Robustly Advocate for Women’s 30% Political Representation

MONROVIA – Campaigns to increase women’s representation in political representation to 30 percent are picking up steam again in the country with Deputy Speaker J.

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Women in Swiss politics: Still a long way to go

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February 19, 2021

Women in Swiss politics: Still a long way to go

Fifty years after getting the right to vote, women are better represented in the Swiss parliament than ever. In a ranking of 191 countries worldwide, Switzerland is in 17th place.

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It's not unusual: The newly elected all-male Aargau government in October 2020, with its chancellor, Vincenza Trivigno

Fifty years after getting the right to vote, women are better represented in the Swiss parliament than ever. In a ranking of 191 countries worldwide, Switzerland is in 17th place.

‘We can’t leave parliaments to men’: Leading in Spring Street

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February 18, 2021

‘We can’t leave parliaments to men’: Leading in Spring Street

Ask every female politician in the Victorian Parliament and they will most likely have that one story.

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Ask every female politician in the Victorian Parliament and they will most likely have that one story.

February 12, 2021
Iceland’s Parliament reschedules sessions, opens nursery to be a more family-friendly workplace

A nursery, complete with a diaper change facility, has been opened at the first floor of Iceland’s Parliament building.

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Women, politics and opposition

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February 11, 2021

Women, politics and opposition

The conventional consensus is that Pakistan lags behind severely in gender equality. However, one area where it has made progress is women in politics. It is one of 70 countries in the world that has had a woman prime minister or president.

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The conventional consensus is that Pakistan lags behind severely in gender equality. However, one area where it has made progress is women in politics. It is one of 70 countries in the world that has had a woman prime minister or president.

February 11, 2021
Gender quota helps women win in Egypt

By Fatma Tawfik

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Why don’t more women run for office?

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February 5, 2021

Why don’t more women run for office?

A century ago, Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons. While female participation in federal office has increased significantly since then, women still only make up 28 per cent of Parliament today.

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A century ago, Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons. While female participation in federal office has increased significantly since then, women still only make up 28 per cent of Parliament today.

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