November 1, 2019
Female Empowerment in Pakistan
Pakistan ranks second lowest in the world for gender equality, placing at number 148 out of 149 countries.
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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November 1, 2019
Botswana battles declining number of women in politics
Female under-representation in politics continues to be a problem in Botswana, where only three women won seats in the 57-member National Assembly during last week’s general elections.
How to thwart political violence targeting women to stabilize societies
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November 1, 2019
How to thwart political violence targeting women to stabilize societies
This month, the New York Times profiled Zarifa Ghafari, one of the few female mayors in Afghanistan.
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This month, the New York Times profiled Zarifa Ghafari, one of the few female mayors in Afghanistan.
October 31, 2019
Women MPs say abuse forcing them from politics
MPs have increasingly become the target of abuse - and some women politicians say they are bearing the brunt of it.
October 30, 2019
Slovakia is not the best country for women
Slovakia is walking on the right path when it comes to women’s empowerment. But the country still lags, even behind its closest neighbours.
October 30, 2019
Sexism in parliament in Iceland: The numbers don’t lie
According to a new study, around 80% of women in Parliament are exposed to gender-based violence. In May, the study surveyed 33 women who are working in or have recently quit Parliament, with 25 women responding.
October 28, 2019
Belgium gets first female PM as Sophie Wilmès takes office
Belgium’s first female prime minister in its 189-year history has taken office, after Sophie Wilmès was named as the head of the country’s next caretaker government.
October 28, 2019
USA: These candidates are proof: Investing in women who run for state and local office pays off
Many feminists celebrated the incredible progress made in 2018 when more women were elected to Congress than ever before—but victories at the state level warranted commemoration, too.
October 28, 2019
Claudia López: Colombia's capital elects gay woman as mayor
Claudia López, a gay politician who advertises herself as "incorruptible", has become the first woman to be elected mayor of Colombia's capital, Bogotá.