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.
More work needs to be done post-elections in the Pacific to ensure Pacific countries do not remain at the bottom globally for gender equality in politics.
Increasing Women’s Political Participation Through Effective Training Programs: Aguide to best practices and lessons learned.
Increasing Women’s Political Participation Through Effective Training Programs: Aguide to best practices and lessons learned.
6 key findings on obstacles to women in politics based on a an Inter-parlimentary Union survey of Women and Men in Parliaments
6 key findings on obstacles to women in politics based on a an Inter-parlimentary Union survey of Women and Men in Parliaments
A quick look at the rights of women across Arab countries today. The article offers a snapshot of how women are fairing in different Arab countries.
The Women in Politics Map 2014 launched by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women today shows that while progress on women’s political participation continues to be largely positive across the world, glass ceilings remain firmly in place for women at the highest levels.
The Women in Politics Map 2014 launched by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women today shows that while progress on women’s political participation continues to be largely positive across the world, glass ceilings remain firmly in place for women at the highest levels.
Over the past decade and a half, more women have come to power in the Western Hemisphere, leading to an increasing number of female politicians and the creation of laws to protect women’s rights.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has been called a “sleeper” candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, but the New York Democrat doesn’t sound as though the White House is in her sights.