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Parliaments and Representatives

Democracy and the equal participation of men and women in the political arena are closely intertwined. No parliament or any decision-making body can claim to be representative without the participation of both men and women. As stated in the Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Member Parliaments in 1997, "The achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementarity, drawing mutual enrichment from their differences."

Recent years have seen a steady increase in the number of women in parliament, though the world average of less than 22 percent remains far from the goal of parity between women and men. The election of women to the highest positions of state and government in several countries has also contributed to the changing face of politics.

While the road to election is a difficult one, the challenges for women do not stop there. Once women enter parliament or other bodies, they are faced with many new challenges. Parliament is traditionally a male-oriented domain where the rules and practices have been written by men. It is, therefore, an ongoing challenge to transform parliament into a gender-sensitive environment, to ensure that actions are gender-sensitive and to guarantee that gender is mainstreamed throughout the legislature.

Infographic | Inspirational Women in Eastern European Politics

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March 17, 2025

Infographic | Inspirational Women in Eastern European Politics

Last Saturday, March 8th, marked International Women’s Day, when the international community celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women.

Last Saturday, March 8th, marked International Women’s Day, when the international community celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women.

World News

Men Continue to Dominate Politics

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Men Continue to Dominate Politics

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NEW YORK | 11 March 2025 (IDN) — New data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women underscores the critical need for immediate action, as progress toward gender equality in political leadership at the start of 2025 has been unacceptably slow.

NEW YORK | 11 March 2025 (IDN) — New data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women underscores the critical need for immediate action, as progress toward gender equality in political leadership at the start of 2025 has been unacceptably slow.

World News

Facts and figures: Women’s leadership and political participation

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Facts and figures: Women’s leadership and political participation

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Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, data show that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide and that achieving gender parity in political life is far off.

Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, data show that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide and that achieving gender parity in political life is far off.

World News

Online ‘manosphere’ is moving misogyny to the mainstream

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Online ‘manosphere’ is moving misogyny to the mainstream

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The pushback against gender equality is one of the findings in a major report from UN Women, the UN agency for gender equality, on the progress made so far in advancing women’s rights worldwide.

This latest version of the study, which is updated every five years, comes at a time of great uncertainty, as several donors announce major funding cuts, leading to the disruption of essential services for women worldwide.

The pushback against gender equality is one of the findings in a major report from UN Women, the UN agency for gender equality, on the progress made so far in advancing women’s rights worldwide.

This latest version of the study, which is updated every five years, comes at a time of great uncertainty, as several donors announce major funding cuts, leading to the disruption of essential services for women worldwide.

World News

Turkish Parliament stresses women's role in upgrading politics, equality

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Turkish Parliament stresses women's role in upgrading politics, equality

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Türkiye has made significant progress in increasing women’s political participation, but the continued struggle against structural challenges as well as societal stereotypes must be overcome for further gains, female parliamentarians say

Strengthening the presence of women in politics will result in improving law and equality as well as political discussions, deputies in the Turkish Parliament highlighted to mark March 8, Women’s Day.

Türkiye has made significant progress in increasing women’s political participation, but the continued struggle against structural challenges as well as societal stereotypes must be overcome for further gains, female parliamentarians say

Strengthening the presence of women in politics will result in improving law and equality as well as political discussions, deputies in the Turkish Parliament highlighted to mark March 8, Women’s Day.

World News

Gender equality in politics remains elusive in Japan

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Gender equality in politics remains elusive in Japan

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Gender equality in politics is still elusive in Japan, which marks the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage this year.

Female lawmakers hold only 15.7% of all seats in the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

Gender-related unconscious bias continues to hinder women's participation in politics, and Japan has a long way to go before fully achieving gender equality in the field.

Gender equality in politics is still elusive in Japan, which marks the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage this year.

Female lawmakers hold only 15.7% of all seats in the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

Gender-related unconscious bias continues to hinder women's participation in politics, and Japan has a long way to go before fully achieving gender equality in the field.