Skip to main content

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.

December 20, 2021
Zimbabwe: end gender-based violence in politics

The United Nations has rallied the nation to stamp out widespread violence against women in politics (VAWP) across the country’s political divide during election period.

Realizing gender equality in parliament: A guide for parliaments in the OSCE region

Back
December 20, 2021

Realizing gender equality in parliament: A guide for parliaments in the OSCE region

This practical guide is intended to support the full range of parliamentary actors — from parliamentary leadership teams, members of parliament, and political and parliamentary staff, to parliamentary practitioners and civil society organizations dealing with gender e

This practical guide is intended to support the full range of parliamentary actors — from parliamentary leadership teams, members of parliament, and political and parliamentary staff, to parliamentary practitioners and civil society organizations dealing with gender e

December 17, 2021
Mentorship and leadership programme for women parliamentarians launched in Uganda

The British High Commission, in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), UN Women and the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) on December 07 launched the second cohort of their mentorship

Women politicians are under siege  -  4.Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Kevin Dietsch, Stefani Reynolds, and Alex Wong/Getty Images
December 17, 2021
Women politicians are under siege

Women in Congress feel besieged and singled-out amid surging threats against lawmakers at all levels, with some frustrated more hasn't been done to halt the trend.

IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign goes global - Copyright: IPU
December 17, 2021
IPU’s I Say Yes to Youth in Parliament! campaign goes global

Just over ten years ago, IPU Member Parliaments adopted a landmark resolution on youth participation to encourage the rejuvenation of parliaments. Since then, parliaments from around the world have made some limited progress in its implementation.

Reach higher: black women in American politics 2021

Back
December 16, 2021

Reach higher: black women in American politics 2021

Black women are a powerful force in the American political system, and their political power continues to grow and garner recognition for the force it is.

Black women are a powerful force in the American political system, and their political power continues to grow and garner recognition for the force it is.

Rep.-elect Angie Craig, left, joined other women in the freshman class of Congress for a group photo on Capitol Hill on Nov. 14, 2018 - Star Tribune
December 16, 2021
Women in Minnesota politics face growing threats and intimidation

The threats arrive by mail, email, voicemail and social media. Hateful comments are shouted out of a car window or in line at the grocery store. More than ever before, the threats come home, in the form of protests or strangers circling the block.

Violence targeting women in politics: trends in targets, types, and perpetrators of political violence

Back
December 15, 2021

Violence targeting women in politics: trends in targets, types, and perpetrators of political violence

The addition of identity types to ACLED data on political violence targeting women sheds new light on the threats to women’s participation in political processes, such as running for or holding office, supporting or voting for political candidates, leading human right

The addition of identity types to ACLED data on political violence targeting women sheds new light on the threats to women’s participation in political processes, such as running for or holding office, supporting or voting for political candidates, leading human right

December 15, 2021
Australians want more women in politics

Australians want to see more women in politics, new research has found.