While there have been important advances in women’s leadership in politics, as of November 1 2017, women make up only 7.2% of Heads of State and 6.2% Heads of Government. Data on women representatives in local government, including as mayors, heads of villages and towns, is not well collected and analyzed. The adoption of an SDG indicator on women’s representation in local government is a great step forward in tracking progress on gender balance, allowing for the systematic collection and analysis of data on women in local government. Women’s access to and continued role in leadership positions is challenged by a range of barriers, including discriminatory laws and practices, as well as social norms that prescribe traditional roles and attitudes towards women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles. Proactive gender-equality policies within political parties and local government structures, including quotas and special temporary measures, gender-sensitive approaches to electoral processes, support networks, mentoring, training, and engagement of male champions, can all help promote women’s role in political leadership.
In an interview with the Finnish magazine Trendi, the country’s 34-year-old prime minister Sanna Marin described being asked by one journalist, ahead of a meeting of her centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP), whether she had cleaned her house that day.
The African continent has achieved major milestones in women’s participation in political decision making during the past decade, the African Union (AU) Commission has said.
Making up an estimated half of Malaysia’s electoral roll, women remain to this day, crucial determinersof who comes to power and stays in power. It is then curious as to why women’s issues and legislations that impact women persist as an uphill battle.
With Senator Kamala Harris as a historic vice-presidential running mate, it's impossible to avoid the topic of gender this election cycle - but are the rules of the race really different for women?
COVID-19 and conflict: Advancing women’s meaningful participation in ceasefires and peace processes
Watch the fourth in a series of short videos on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Identifying obstacles and focusing on long-term solutions to propose strategies for equal representation
Creating women’s wings within political parties allows women greater influence over policymaking
Pushing gender parity and youth participation to the forefront of the political agenda