Elections

Political authoritarianism has been constant feature in the Arab political systems, and despite the ongoing “Arab Spring,” there is a continuing tendency to prevent women from freely participating in political processes. Recently, a handful of Arab countries have consented to slightly alter their political systems so as to allow women and opposition groups to have a greater say on political issues.

That much-publicised milestone of political gender equality in the US? 20 per cent. Yes. Being outnumbered four to one is a milestone for women in the US Senate. Closer to home, Australia granted women the right to vote and to seek election in 1902, but it took nearly 22 years for a woman to enter federal Parliament, and more than a century to have any woman as prime minister.

Today, less than one-third of our MPs are women and women make up less than a quarter of the cabinet. In the ''year of the woman'', men continue to dominate the policy decisions that affect us all.

Shura Council members voted down legislation requiring political parties to display female candidates at the top of party lists. The Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee of the upper house of parliament debated on Tuesday the House of Representatives elections bill. The government-sponsored bill initially required parties to

While Kenya’s disputed presidential race continues to take center stage, another race could radically transform politics at the local level: the election of women’s representatives in each of the 47 newly created counties across Kenya. As a result of constitutional provisions, more women will be represented in Kenya’s Parliament than ever before, a step forward for representative equality in a traditionally patriarchal society where political engagement is dominated by men.

Times are changing as more and more women are taking to high office around the world; the US Senate has just announced that a record 20 seats are now held by women, which is considered to be a real leap forward in what has always been a male domain.

(We invite our users to read the complete article published March 25 2013)

New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Retiring Rajya Sabha member and veteran agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan Friday stressed the need for parliament to take steps for empowerment of women, starting from the rural women at grassroots level. "I hope parliament will pass the women's reservation bill soon.