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New York – Around 100 officials from Mexico and other Latin American countries, indigenous peoples’ representatives and non-governmental organizations gathered today in New York during the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples (7-18 May) to discuss how to increase indigenous peoples’ political partici

Statement by Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women

UN Women welcomes the increase in women’s representation in the new parliament of Algeria as a result of last week’s elections. The percentage of women parliamentary members now stands at 31 percent, up from 8 percent during the previous period from 2007 through 2011.This increase followed the adoption in January of a quota law stipulating 30 percent women’s participation, and is a welcome step in Algeria’s progress towards democratic reform and gender equality.

As the political transition proceeds in Libya, leaders continue to struggle to meet public expectations on key issues such as security, political reform and standard of living, according to a new public opinion study by NDI.

iKNOW Politics, an online network dedicated to the advancement of women in politics around the world, has come to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It’s a country where women are significantly underrepresented politically and where, as the nation prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections next month, hundreds of women turned out to learn how the online network could help them build successful candidacies.

During Egypt’s revolution, thousands of women joined men in the streets to promote democratic reform. Now, as the country prepares for its first post-revolution parliamentary elections this fall, women are seeking to participate equally in the challenges of governing.

Women who want to enter politics in Burkina Faso face a number of barriers, such as lack of faith in their leadership abilities, few role models and limited opportunities. So it is a struggle in this West African country for women to run for office, rise within party ranks or contribute to party platforms. Those who manage to win elections don’t receive the same level of political party support and training as men and, as a result, have a harder time being successful as office holders.

Over the last eight years, Iraqi women have become increasingly active in politics, taking on some of the country’s most vexing issues — peace and security, economic empowerment, social justice, education and the environment. Their goal is to achieve consensus across regional, political and sectarian lines in a nation where coexistence and compromise are not everyday occurrences.

Mexico’s gender quota system has made a significant difference for women seeking election to the Mexican Congress. In the last 15 years, the percentage of seats occupied by women has increased from 10 to 26 percent.  

But at the municipal level, women have not had such success. The number of women mayors in the country averages 5.5 percent, and in some areas the percentages are smaller. An example is the Mexican state of Michoacán, on the central western coast, which elected just three women mayors in its 113 municipalities.