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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.

Seethings and Seatings: Strategies for Women’s Political Participation in Asia Pacific

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January 9, 2009

Seethings and Seatings: Strategies for Women’s Political Participation in Asia Pacific

This is a publication from the APWLD’s research project aimed at assisting women in Asia Pacific to challenge existing structures hindering women’s participation in political processes.

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This is a publication from the APWLD’s research project aimed at assisting women in Asia Pacific to challenge existing structures hindering women’s participation in political processes.

A Gender Responsive Parliament: A Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming in the Legislature

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January 2, 2009

A Gender Responsive Parliament: A Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming in the Legislature

This guidebook provides brief and simple references on gender mainstreaming in legislative processes. In particular, the guide focuses on two of the three principal functions of the House of Representative (DPR) in Indonesia, namely producing legislation and forming budgets.

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This guidebook provides brief and simple references on gender mainstreaming in legislative processes. In particular, the guide focuses on two of the three principal functions of the House of Representative (DPR) in Indonesia, namely producing legislation and forming budgets.

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Handbook for Parliamentarians: CEDAW and its Optional Protocol

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September 25, 2008

Handbook for Parliamentarians: CEDAW and its Optional Protocol

This handbook provides a comprehensive presentation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol for parlaimentarians.

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This handbook provides a comprehensive presentation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol for parlaimentarians.

Evaluating Parliaments: A Self-Assessment Toolkit for Parliaments

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September 24, 2008

Evaluating Parliaments: A Self-Assessment Toolkit for Parliaments

This resource invites parliaments to evaluate their democratic performance against a set of criteria based on the core values set out in IPU’s ground breaking.

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This resource invites parliaments to evaluate their democratic performance against a set of criteria based on the core values set out in IPU’s ground breaking.

Progress of the World's Women 2008/2009: Who Answers to Women?

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September 22, 2008

Progress of the World's Women 2008/2009: Who Answers to Women?

This report analyzes how gender-responsive changes to accountability systems are enhancing women’s influence in politics and their access to public services. It also highlights women's access to economic opportunities,to justice, and to international assistance for development and security.

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This report analyzes how gender-responsive changes to accountability systems are enhancing women’s influence in politics and their access to public services. It also highlights women's access to economic opportunities,to justice, and to international assistance for development and security.

UNIFEM Annual Report 2007–2008

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September 18, 2008

UNIFEM Annual Report 2007–2008

This report highlights UNIFEM's work to empower women in economic and public spheres, including achieving gender equality in democratic governance.

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This report highlights UNIFEM's work to empower women in economic and public spheres, including achieving gender equality in democratic governance.

Women’s Caucuses and Their Impact on the Political Culture of Latin American Countries

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September 17, 2008

Women’s Caucuses and Their Impact on the Political Culture of Latin American Countries

This consolidated response analyzes the role and historical development of multi-party parliamentary women’s caucuses. The response looks into the goals, challenges and achievements of women's caucuses in parliaments in Latin American countries.

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This consolidated response analyzes the role and historical development of multi-party parliamentary women’s caucuses. The response looks into the goals, challenges and achievements of women's caucuses in parliaments in Latin American countries.

Independent Women Candidates in Local Elections in Mali

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September 16, 2008

Independent Women Candidates in Local Elections in Mali

This consolidated response highlights recommendations on how to empower independent women candidates to succeed in elections.

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This consolidated response highlights recommendations on how to empower independent women candidates to succeed in elections.

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