Recap: Empowering Voices: From Gender Mainstreaming to Youth Inclusion in Parliaments - 10 October 2024

The event featured insightful discussions on gender equality and the importance of diverse representation in parliaments. 

1. Opening Remarks: Ulrike Bahr and Petra Grimm-Benne emphasized the global landscape of gender and democracy, highlighting the need for diverse voices in representation and law-making to hold governments accountable. 

2. The INTER PARES Handbook, "Beyond Numbers: Stories of Gender Equality in and through Parliaments," was launched to explore the landscape of gender-sensitive parliaments. It highlights real stories of change, emphasizing that small actions can lead to broader impacts. Key contributors include Leena Rikkila Tamang from International IDEA, Silvia Erzeel, and Petra Ahrens 

3. Panel 1: Putting Gender on the Agenda: This panel focused on the role of critical actors in driving change and ensuring that gender issues are included in political debates. Speakers included Ulrike Bahr, Keiba Jacob Mottley, and Mihail Onea, who shared inspiring stories of advocating for women's interests and public engagement. 

4. Panel 2: Revealing Invisible Gender Inequalities: Panelists discussed how data and gender-sensitive scrutiny can uncover hidden inequalities. Fuziah Salleh, Mariadele Cucinotta, and Phuntshok Chhoden highlighted the necessity of using rules and procedures to advance gender equality. 

5. Panel 3: Diversity and Inclusion - Towards Impactful Youth Participation: This session explored how parliaments can better incorporate young people's views and ideas. Speakers Cristina Leston-Bandeira, Nicole Tepasse, Elaf AI-Najdafi, and Utaara Mootu discussed creating pathways for meaningful youth participation. 

Overall, the event highlighted the vital role of gender-sensitive approaches in fostering inclusive and representative governance, demonstrating that small changes can lead to significant impacts over time. 

Read here more about the event on 10 October 2024 by the Inter Pares Parliaments In Partnerships.