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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.

Japan still far from breaking free of male-dominated politics

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July 7, 2022

Japan still far from breaking free of male-dominated politics

It's been four years since the gender parity law was passed in Japan, with an aim of fielding an equal number of female and male candidates in elections. Still, the male-dominated political environment has not changed.

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It's been four years since the gender parity law was passed in Japan, with an aim of fielding an equal number of female and male candidates in elections. Still, the male-dominated political environment has not changed.

World News

International Day of Parliamentarism 2022: More diversity, slightly fewer functioning parliaments

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International Day of Parliamentarism 2022: More diversity, slightly fewer functioning parliaments

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On the eve of the International Day of Parliamentarism and the IPU’s 133rd anniversary on 30 June, a snapshot of the state of parliaments and parliamentarians offers mixed results.

According to the latest IPU figures, some parliaments are becoming more representative, with the proportion of MPs who are women and who are young on the increase. However, IPU data also shows that the numbers of functioning parliaments and sitting parliamentarians have decreased slightly. 

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On the eve of the International Day of Parliamentarism and the IPU’s 133rd anniversary on 30 June, a snapshot of the state of parliaments and parliamentarians offers mixed results.

According to the latest IPU figures, some parliaments are becoming more representative, with the proportion of MPs who are women and who are young on the increase. However, IPU data also shows that the numbers of functioning parliaments and sitting parliamentarians have decreased slightly. 

I’m not sexist, other voters are

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July 6, 2022

I’m not sexist, other voters are

During the 2020 caucus cycle, I heard it a lot, the refrain of the cautious Democratic voter. I want to vote for her, but I don’t think she can win. It wasn’t, people reasoned, because they were sexist, but they worried that America was.

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During the 2020 caucus cycle, I heard it a lot, the refrain of the cautious Democratic voter. I want to vote for her, but I don’t think she can win. It wasn’t, people reasoned, because they were sexist, but they worried that America was.

Two sides, one goal: consolidating power for gender equality

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July 4, 2022

Two sides, one goal: consolidating power for gender equality

In the 2020 elections in Georgia, women increased their share of seats in parliament from 14 to almost 20 percent.

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In the 2020 elections in Georgia, women increased their share of seats in parliament from 14 to almost 20 percent.

Why we must work with parliaments to tackle online hate speech and gender-based violence

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July 4, 2022

Why we must work with parliaments to tackle online hate speech and gender-based violence

Recent evidence of violence against women in politics shows that online hate speech and harassment represent both serious and increasing obstacles to the ability of female political leaders to fulfil their mandates.

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Recent evidence of violence against women in politics shows that online hate speech and harassment represent both serious and increasing obstacles to the ability of female political leaders to fulfil their mandates.

Equal Future: How many women are in your parliament?

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July 4, 2022

Equal Future: How many women are in your parliament?

Over the last 25 years, since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action by the United Nations in 1995, the number of women parliamentarians has nearly doubled worldwide.

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Over the last 25 years, since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action by the United Nations in 1995, the number of women parliamentarians has nearly doubled worldwide.

World News

Cuba second in the world on parliamentary gender parity

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Cuba second in the world on parliamentary gender parity

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The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has placed Cuba as the second of the five countries in the world that boast gender parity in parliament and the country with the second-highest proportion of women deputies.

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The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has placed Cuba as the second of the five countries in the world that boast gender parity in parliament and the country with the second-highest proportion of women deputies.

World News

Women battle for seats in PNG parliament

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Women battle for seats in PNG parliament

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Port Moresby (AFP) – Women are fighting to get at least one seat in Papua New Guinea's male-dominated parliament when voting opens Monday in a mountainous, forest-clad land scarred by gender-based violence.

Prime Minister James Marape is fending off a challenge from his predecessor Peter O'Neill to lead this resource-rich but poverty-struck Pacific Island for the next five years.

Whoever wins, the new leader will need to cobble together a coalition government, say analysts.

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Port Moresby (AFP) – Women are fighting to get at least one seat in Papua New Guinea's male-dominated parliament when voting opens Monday in a mountainous, forest-clad land scarred by gender-based violence.

Prime Minister James Marape is fending off a challenge from his predecessor Peter O'Neill to lead this resource-rich but poverty-struck Pacific Island for the next five years.

Whoever wins, the new leader will need to cobble together a coalition government, say analysts.

World News

Jersey election 2022: Number of females elected rises from 14 to 21

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Jersey election 2022: Number of females elected rises from 14 to 21

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The 2022 election has seen more women elected to Jersey's government than ever before.

A total of 51% of the newly-elected deputies are women, and women now make up 43% of the overall government.

Carina Alves, Inna Gardiner, Carolyn Labey, Helen Miles and Kristina Moore topped their constituency polls.

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The 2022 election has seen more women elected to Jersey's government than ever before.

A total of 51% of the newly-elected deputies are women, and women now make up 43% of the overall government.

Carina Alves, Inna Gardiner, Carolyn Labey, Helen Miles and Kristina Moore topped their constituency polls.

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