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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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Violence Against Women: What can parliaments do to protect women?

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October 21, 2020

Violence Against Women: What can parliaments do to protect women?

Watch the fourth in a series of short videos on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Watch the fourth in a series of short videos on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

World News

Strengthening women’s political participation in Bhutan

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Strengthening women’s political participation in Bhutan

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Identifying obstacles and focusing on long-term solutions to propose strategies for equal representation

Former minister Dasho Dorji Choden, the first female minister, addresses the challenges Bhutanese women politicians face before her fellow participants during the Bhutan Women Parliamentary Caucus orientation workshop held in Paro in November 2019.

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Identifying obstacles and focusing on long-term solutions to propose strategies for equal representation

Former minister Dasho Dorji Choden, the first female minister, addresses the challenges Bhutanese women politicians face before her fellow participants during the Bhutan Women Parliamentary Caucus orientation workshop held in Paro in November 2019.

World News

Training for increased women's political participation in Myanmar

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Training for increased women's political participation in Myanmar

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Creating women’s wings within political parties allows women greater influence over policymaking

Nang Tin Shwe Oo is a member of the Pa’O National Organization (PNO), an ethnic political party from the Pa’O region in Myanmar’s Shan State. The PNO is one of 41 political parties in the country that has created a women’s wing with support and training through the European Union-funded ‘Support to Electoral Processes and Democracy (STEP Democracy)’ programme in Myanmar.

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Creating women’s wings within political parties allows women greater influence over policymaking

Nang Tin Shwe Oo is a member of the Pa’O National Organization (PNO), an ethnic political party from the Pa’O region in Myanmar’s Shan State. The PNO is one of 41 political parties in the country that has created a women’s wing with support and training through the European Union-funded ‘Support to Electoral Processes and Democracy (STEP Democracy)’ programme in Myanmar.

World News

Breaking down gender barriers in Paraguay

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Breaking down gender barriers in Paraguay

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Pushing gender parity and youth participation to the forefront of the political agenda

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Pushing gender parity and youth participation to the forefront of the political agenda

Women constituion-makers: comparative experiences with representation, participation and influence

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October 21, 2020

Women constituion-makers: comparative experiences with representation, participation and influence

On 24–25 October 2019, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)—together with the Edinburgh Centre for Constitutional Law (ECCL) and the Political Settlements Research Programme (PSRP) at the University of Edinburgh—hosted the inaugural event in a se

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On 24–25 October 2019, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)—together with the Edinburgh Centre for Constitutional Law (ECCL) and the Political Settlements Research Programme (PSRP) at the University of Edinburgh—hosted the inaugural event in a se

World News

Celebrity advocates Connie Britton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Yemi Alade call for green and gender-equal COVID-19 recovery during UN General Assembly week

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Celebrity advocates Connie Britton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Yemi Alade call for green and gender-equal COVID-19 recovery during UN General Assembly week

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New York — UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors American actor Connie Britton, Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Nigerian musician Yemi Alade participated this week in thought-provoking conversations organized by the SDG Action Zone - an innovative space held during the United Nations General Assembly. The three advocates shared personal experiences and perspectives on the pandemic, focusing on the environment, women’s empowerment and the need to rebuild an economy that is green and equitable.

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New York — UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors American actor Connie Britton, Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Nigerian musician Yemi Alade participated this week in thought-provoking conversations organized by the SDG Action Zone - an innovative space held during the United Nations General Assembly. The three advocates shared personal experiences and perspectives on the pandemic, focusing on the environment, women’s empowerment and the need to rebuild an economy that is green and equitable.

World News

25 years after Beijing, IPU analysis shows that gender parity is possible

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25 years after Beijing, IPU analysis shows that gender parity is possible

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A quarter of a century after the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the overall percentage of women in parliaments has reached 24.9 per cent in 2020, up from 11.3 per cent in 1995. In four countries (Rwanda, Cuba, Bolivia and the United Arab Emirates) women now account for 50 per cent or more MPs in their lower or single chambers compared with 1995 when no parliament had reached gender parity. Gender quotas remain critical success factors for women to be better represented in parliament, especially young women.

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A quarter of a century after the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the overall percentage of women in parliaments has reached 24.9 per cent in 2020, up from 11.3 per cent in 1995. In four countries (Rwanda, Cuba, Bolivia and the United Arab Emirates) women now account for 50 per cent or more MPs in their lower or single chambers compared with 1995 when no parliament had reached gender parity. Gender quotas remain critical success factors for women to be better represented in parliament, especially young women.

World News

Women leaders translate rights into outcomes in Central African Republic

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Women leaders translate rights into outcomes in Central African Republic

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Women leaders suffered unspeakable atrocities during the conflict in the Central African Republic in which militias killed thousands and displaced many more. These women remain devoted to forging peace in their country and are doing so with help and support from International IDEA.

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Women leaders suffered unspeakable atrocities during the conflict in the Central African Republic in which militias killed thousands and displaced many more. These women remain devoted to forging peace in their country and are doing so with help and support from International IDEA.

World News

Making legislation more gender-sensitive

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Making legislation more gender-sensitive

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As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

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As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

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