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.
According to a 2012 survey by the World Economic Forum, Pakistan is still considered to be one of the worst places in the world to be a woman.
LAHORE: As many as 147 women are contesting election 2013 in 105 National Assembly and 301 women in 203 provincial assembly constituencies on general seats.
By UN Women’s first anniversary at the start of 2012, we could look back on a year of accomplishment. It was a year of rapid progress but also challenges, both those inherent in the creation of a new organization, and those taking place in the outside world.
By UN Women’s first anniversary at the start of 2012, we could look back on a year of accomplishment. It was a year of rapid progress but also challenges, both those inherent in the creation of a new organization, and those taking place in the outside world.
The political gender gap isn’t just among voters. It also includes those they get to vote for.
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Enrico Letta continues the political revolution that began under Mario Monti by naming seven women in his 22-member cabinet. Arguably the most important woman in the closing months of Silvio Berlusconi's 2008-11 government was Karima el-M
When Laura Boldrini, 52, was elected as speaker of Italy’s lower house last month, she knew the job would come with enormous challenges. But she didn’t expect it to come with death threats.
Quotas are in increasingly important policy tool used in more than 50 countries to ensure women's entry into high-level decision making roles in political parties and government.
Quotas are in increasingly important policy tool used in more than 50 countries to ensure women's entry into high-level decision making roles in political parties and government.
Lots of vibrant young women enter UK politics - but only a few of them stand the test of time.