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.
In practice debates before previous New Zealand elections, Nicola Willis used to play the role of formidable female politicians.
Women comprise 54% of Zimbabwe's population, but one can hardly tell from the country's new cabinet.
Women comprise 54% of Zimbabwe's population, but one can hardly tell from the country's new cabinet.
Open House: Where Next for Gender Equality in Parliament is the first ever audit of a decade’s worth of reports into gender equality in the UK Parliament.
Open House: Where Next for Gender Equality in Parliament is the first ever audit of a decade’s worth of reports into gender equality in the UK Parliament.
Only 15 of the 389 members of the Constituent Assembly, which framed the Constitution, were women.
Only 15 of the 389 members of the Constituent Assembly, which framed the Constitution, were women.
BJP Mahila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan is confident Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fulfil the BJP’s promise of a legislation to reserve seats for women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, and says he always urges state units to ensur
BJP Mahila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan is confident Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fulfil the BJP’s promise of a legislation to reserve seats for women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, and says he always urges state units to ensur
It’s great to hear that the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) has been actively promoting the inclusion of women and religious minorities within the party.
It’s great to hear that the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) has been actively promoting the inclusion of women and religious minorities within the party.
September 6 was a groundbreaking day for Mexico. It’s not just because that’s when governing Morena coalition announced that a woman—former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum—would be its presidential contender.
September 6 was a groundbreaking day for Mexico. It’s not just because that’s when governing Morena coalition announced that a woman—former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum—would be its presidential contender.
Sabah can draw invaluable insights from nations like Pakistan and the Scandinavian countries to address women’s under-representation in politics, said Institute for Development Studies (Sabah) chairperson Datuk Adeline Leong.
Sabah can draw invaluable insights from nations like Pakistan and the Scandinavian countries to address women’s under-representation in politics, said Institute for Development Studies (Sabah) chairperson Datuk Adeline Leong.
“I faced so much violence on Facebook”, she said. “I am separated from my husband, so people could say unimaginable things using [pseudonymous] accounts, to me and my family. It was just chaotic.”
“I faced so much violence on Facebook”, she said. “I am separated from my husband, so people could say unimaginable things using [pseudonymous] accounts, to me and my family. It was just chaotic.”