Achieving Gender Parity
Source: The Regulatory Review
In a discussion with The Regulatory Review, globally recognized women’s human rights expert Rangita de Silva de Alwis offers her thoughts on the increasing presence of women in leadership positions around the world.
Women are rising through the ranks of political, corporate, and academic life. According to de Silva de Alwis in a forthcoming article, this increased representation of women in the political decision-making process in Europe has spurred critical legislation safeguarding the rights of women. For example, de Silva de Alwis points out that Spain’s enacted gender quota, which led to a legislative composition of 44 percent women, allowed for the passage of the first paid menstrual leave, expanded abortion rights, and reconceptualized affirmative consent in rape law.
Despite these developments, de Silva de Alwis argues that women remain underrepresented in all levels of political decision making. She writes that, to achieve true gender parity in political life, the policy focus should center on not only the percentage of women leaders but also their achievements once elected. De Silva de Alwis predicts that as over 60 countries enter a major election cycle during the coming year, opportunities will arise for even more women to step into positions of power.
In this Spotlight, de Silva de Alwis—drawing on her illustrious career in international women’s rights advocacy and scholarship—contextualizes this important moment in political change, identifies challenges facing women candidates, and analyzes the actions of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination (CEDAW) that seek to advance gender parity.
Read here the full article published by The Regulatory Review on 22 September 2024.
Image credits: The Regulatory Review
In a discussion with The Regulatory Review, globally recognized women’s human rights expert Rangita de Silva de Alwis offers her thoughts on the increasing presence of women in leadership positions around the world.
Women are rising through the ranks of political, corporate, and academic life. According to de Silva de Alwis in a forthcoming article, this increased representation of women in the political decision-making process in Europe has spurred critical legislation safeguarding the rights of women. For example, de Silva de Alwis points out that Spain’s enacted gender quota, which led to a legislative composition of 44 percent women, allowed for the passage of the first paid menstrual leave, expanded abortion rights, and reconceptualized affirmative consent in rape law.
Despite these developments, de Silva de Alwis argues that women remain underrepresented in all levels of political decision making. She writes that, to achieve true gender parity in political life, the policy focus should center on not only the percentage of women leaders but also their achievements once elected. De Silva de Alwis predicts that as over 60 countries enter a major election cycle during the coming year, opportunities will arise for even more women to step into positions of power.
In this Spotlight, de Silva de Alwis—drawing on her illustrious career in international women’s rights advocacy and scholarship—contextualizes this important moment in political change, identifies challenges facing women candidates, and analyzes the actions of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination (CEDAW) that seek to advance gender parity.
Read here the full article published by The Regulatory Review on 22 September 2024.
Image credits: The Regulatory Review