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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.

100 years on, politics is where the U.S. lags most on gender equality

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June 29, 2023

100 years on, politics is where the U.S. lags most on gender equality

A century on from women winning the right to vote in the U.S., our nation has made huge progress on many fronts. But plenty more is needed—and above all in the political sphere. The U.S.

A century on from women winning the right to vote in the U.S., our nation has made huge progress on many fronts. But plenty more is needed—and above all in the political sphere. The U.S.

The long road to gender equality: overcoming institutional resistance to change

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June 28, 2023

The long road to gender equality: overcoming institutional resistance to change

In recent weeks, media coverage out of Australia’s national Parliament has been dominated by the unedifying spectacle of political point-scoring over the leaked phone messages of former political staffer and victim of alleged rape, Brittany Higgins.

In recent weeks, media coverage out of Australia’s national Parliament has been dominated by the unedifying spectacle of political point-scoring over the leaked phone messages of former political staffer and victim of alleged rape, Brittany Higgins.

World News

Czech Republic: New project aims to protect female politicians against hate speech

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Czech Republic: New project aims to protect female politicians against hate speech

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#StopHate is a project focusing on the problem of hateful attacks against women who are active in politics and public life, aiming to gather information from female academics, politicians, activists and journalists about their experience and contribute to their protection, the organisers said yesterday. A handbook for parliament with proposals for action will also be produced.

#StopHate is a project focusing on the problem of hateful attacks against women who are active in politics and public life, aiming to gather information from female academics, politicians, activists and journalists about their experience and contribute to their protection, the organisers said yesterday. A handbook for parliament with proposals for action will also be produced.

Is Harris truly unpopular or is that the price of being a female politician?

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June 28, 2023

Is Harris truly unpopular or is that the price of being a female politician?

She's next in line to the presidency. But a new poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris is anything but popular. In fact, she has one of the worst approval ratings for a VP since polls started measuring that.

She's next in line to the presidency. But a new poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris is anything but popular. In fact, she has one of the worst approval ratings for a VP since polls started measuring that.

A year in post-Roe America: The biggest surprises on abortion and politics

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June 26, 2023

A year in post-Roe America: The biggest surprises on abortion and politics

One year ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade along with 50 years of legal precedent. We asked experts across the political spectrum about how the end of Roe would change U.S.

One year ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade along with 50 years of legal precedent. We asked experts across the political spectrum about how the end of Roe would change U.S.

Australia: media don’t help. They enable violence against women and fuel the backlash

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June 23, 2023

Australia: media don’t help. They enable violence against women and fuel the backlash

Nearly six years after the #MeToo movement arrived in Australia, and more than a decade after the launch of the first national plan to reduce violence against women, those

Nearly six years after the #MeToo movement arrived in Australia, and more than a decade after the launch of the first national plan to reduce violence against women, those

The women who are barred from the negotiating table…

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June 23, 2023

The women who are barred from the negotiating table…

Shirley Chisholm, the first Black American woman elected to the US Congress back in 1972, once famously remarked: “If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a f

Shirley Chisholm, the first Black American woman elected to the US Congress back in 1972, once famously remarked: “If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a f

Parliaments play a crucial role in women’s equal right to participate

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June 23, 2023

Parliaments play a crucial role in women’s equal right to participate

Women of all ages, backgrounds and ideologies across the globe are pushing to be part of the decision-making process, despite the odds stacked against their participation.

Women of all ages, backgrounds and ideologies across the globe are pushing to be part of the decision-making process, despite the odds stacked against their participation.

Upcoming Event:

National Intergenerational Dialogue on Advancing Youth Participation and Representation in Leadership and Decision-Making

The main purpose of the National Intergenerational Dialogue is to promote intergenerational interactions/exchanges to bridge generational divides and to address the causes of…

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Regional Dialogue on Advancing Transformative Gender Social Norms to Enhance Women and Youth Participation
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Strategies and tools to support women in public life against gender-based violence online and offline
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