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.
Chilean presidential candidate for the ruling party Evelyn Matthei was the target of her competitors’ criticism during a televised debate in which she brushed aside hopefuls’ aspirations arguing that it was obvious that the race was between her and Michelle Bachelet, who did not participate.
Egypt has been undergoing a tumultuous, uncertain democratic transition for more than two years. Inspired by the events in Tunisia, Egyptians organized and participated in mass protests to oust President Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt has been undergoing a tumultuous, uncertain democratic transition for more than two years. Inspired by the events in Tunisia, Egyptians organized and participated in mass protests to oust President Hosni Mubarak.
Changing scenarios and increasing awareness are expected to an enhanced representation of women in the forthcoming state assembly elections.
Historically, customs and traditional laws in Africa hindered women's access to education and development, while promoting, to a varying degree, a culture of male dominance across the continent.
Historically, customs and traditional laws in Africa hindered women's access to education and development, while promoting, to a varying degree, a culture of male dominance across the continent.
As a first of its kind in the OSCE region, this study is concerned with the presence and operation of dedicated women’s parliamentary bodies (alternatively referred to as parliamentary structures for women members of parliament (MPs)) that promote gender equality and women’s representation.
As a first of its kind in the OSCE region, this study is concerned with the presence and operation of dedicated women’s parliamentary bodies (alternatively referred to as parliamentary structures for women members of parliament (MPs)) that promote gender equality and women’s representation.
India had a woman Prime Minister long before the West elected one, but there have been very few women Cabinet ministers to date. Preneet Kaur of t
By some measures, women are making huge gains when it comes to elected politics in Canada.
