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Women's Leadership

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. 

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Women in parliament: 1995–2020 - 25 years in review

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March 26, 2020

Women in parliament: 1995–2020 - 25 years in review

This year’s report looks back at 25 years of women in parliament on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing conference and its groundbreaking action plan for gender equality.

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This year’s report looks back at 25 years of women in parliament on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing conference and its groundbreaking action plan for gender equality.

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How female Prime Ministers are leading in this time of crisis

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How female Prime Ministers are leading in this time of crisis

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Across the world, more than ever people are looking for strong, inspiring leadership. Three incredible Prime Ministers are demonstrating particularly heartening excellent resolve during this pandemic. Oh, and they just happen to be women.

Erna Solberg, PM of Norway

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Across the world, more than ever people are looking for strong, inspiring leadership. Three incredible Prime Ministers are demonstrating particularly heartening excellent resolve during this pandemic. Oh, and they just happen to be women.

Erna Solberg, PM of Norway

Violence against women in politics

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March 24, 2020

Violence against women in politics

Violence against women in politics involves a broad range of harms to attack and undermine women as political actors. Its central motivation is to exclude women as a group from public life.

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Violence against women in politics involves a broad range of harms to attack and undermine women as political actors. Its central motivation is to exclude women as a group from public life.

World News

Paying attention to women’s needs and leadership will strengthen COVID-19 response

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Paying attention to women’s needs and leadership will strengthen COVID-19 response

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A week since The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic and robust measures around the world attempt to contain its spread, social impact of the Novel Coronavirus is hitting women hard.

As well as the health battle, the social impact of the #coronavirus is significant and it is women who are being disproportionately affected.

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A week since The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic and robust measures around the world attempt to contain its spread, social impact of the Novel Coronavirus is hitting women hard.

As well as the health battle, the social impact of the #coronavirus is significant and it is women who are being disproportionately affected.

World News

UN: Japan's women in government ratio lowest in G7

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UN: Japan's women in government ratio lowest in G7

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An international survey has ranked Japan 113th of 190 countries for the percentage of women in ministerial positions. It is the lowest among the Group of Seven industrialized countries.

The report was made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women. It includes rankings for women in executive, parliamentary and government positions as of January 1 this year. The data was released to coincide with International Women's Day.

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An international survey has ranked Japan 113th of 190 countries for the percentage of women in ministerial positions. It is the lowest among the Group of Seven industrialized countries.

The report was made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women. It includes rankings for women in executive, parliamentary and government positions as of January 1 this year. The data was released to coincide with International Women's Day.

World News

Under-representation of women in power remains the norm, UN says

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Under-representation of women in power remains the norm, UN says

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A report released Thursday by U.N. Women says "under-representation of women in power and decision-making is still the norm."

The executive director of the U.N. agency dedicated to the empowerment of women said that men account for 75% of parliamentarians and hold 73% of managerial positions globally. They account for 70% of climate negotiators, and almost all peace negotiators are men, she said.

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A report released Thursday by U.N. Women says "under-representation of women in power and decision-making is still the norm."

The executive director of the U.N. agency dedicated to the empowerment of women said that men account for 75% of parliamentarians and hold 73% of managerial positions globally. They account for 70% of climate negotiators, and almost all peace negotiators are men, she said.

No, We don’t really want a female President

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March 19, 2020

No, We don’t really want a female President

I still remember Wednesday, November 9, 2016 like it was yesterday. The decision was already clear the night before. But there was something of a nightmarish quality to the previous evening — something surreal.

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I still remember Wednesday, November 9, 2016 like it was yesterday. The decision was already clear the night before. But there was something of a nightmarish quality to the previous evening — something surreal.

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