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Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Female parliamentarians worldwide called for immediate reforms to stop sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments. This includes urging all parliaments to set concrete targets and deadlines to achieve equal representation of women and men.

Taking part in the 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament on 25-26 April, women MPs urged the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to lead global reform actions to end all forms of harassment in parliament. Participants specified that by the end of 2018, the IPU should collect best practices and issue concrete guidelines on promoting adequate responses by parliaments to sexism, harassment and violence against women MPs.

Women leaders and MPs at the Summit also declared that more must be done to hold parliaments to account on gender equality. Both male and female MPs must analyse government policies and legislation from a gender perspective and mainstream gender in the functioning of the parliament. Additionally, governments and MPs must do more to establish and promote civic education programmes that create a culture of equality at an early age.

The Summit participants meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia, took inspiration from the host parliament’s initiatives to ensure gender parity in parliament.

Bolivia is the leader in South America when it comes to inclusion of women in politics. Gender quotas were successfully introduced into the 2009 Constitution, ensuring equal female representation and requiring parity between men and women at all levels of government. The rights of indigenous women were particularly strengthened in the Constitution and in political decision-making more broadly.  The result has been that women’s representation in the country is the third highest in the world after Rwanda and Cuba according to IPU statistics.

“This Summit was a major step in our global work to achieve gender parity in parliaments. The energy and commitment of the participants means that nothing will hold us back from achieving the objectives we set during our meeting,” summed up IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron.

Other issues covered at the Summit included an overview of actions taken in follow-up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Declaration was adopted following the Summit of Women Speakers held in December 2016. It focuses on the role of parliaments in addressing new challenges with a view to the future; empowering young people and achieving gender equality in parliament by 2030. Participants at the Bolivia Summit highlighted best practices in meeting Declaration goals and aspirations and identified next steps to maintain momentum.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament was jointly organized by the IPU and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies. The Summit annually brings together the most senior women parliamentary leaders in the world to advocate for gender equality and influence the global parliamentary agenda.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU

Women Speakers of Parliament will identify clear actions to eliminate barriers to women’s political participation, end harassment of female MPs, and promote inclusive parliaments.

The 12th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia, will bring together the most senior women parliamentary leaders to address gender issues in parliaments, and explore avenues for more inclusive political institutions where every voice counts.

The Summit will be held on 25-26 April in Cochabamba, Bolivia, one of the few countries to have achieved gender parity in Parliament and to have enacted specific legislation to combat violence against women in politics.  

A recent IPU analysis showed that the number of women in national parliaments in 2017 only increased by 0.1 percentage point from 2016, from 23.3% to 23.4%. This modest gain was in contrast to the high number of women winning seats at elections in 2017, accounting for 27.1%. Summit participants will examine the root causes of women’s under-representation in politics. They will assess achievements and analyse persistent obstacles to women’s full participation.

The Speakers will also focus on finding solutions to end violence against women politicians, an issue that has become increasingly topical in recent years. Worldwide, women politicians face daily sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as gender-based violence. A 2016 IPU survey of women MPs from 39 countries across all regions revealed that over 81.8 % of the respondents reported having experienced some form of psychological violence. Over 44% said they had received threats of rape, beatings, kidnapping or death.

The Speakers will look in depth at their role and responsibility as leaders in ensuring parliaments are free from violence.

“This Summit is an opportunity to assess progress in women’s leadership in parliaments. We now have 51 women speakers of parliament, in 48 countries, which corresponds to 18.3% of presiding officer positions in parliament. But it is also an opportunity to sound the alarm on the remaining barriers to women’s full participation in politics, and raise our voices against the harassment of our female colleagues,” said IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. 

In addition, making parliaments more representative and ensuring they deliver real power to all the people will be a leading topic on the Summit agenda.  Innovative initiatives to achieve fully inclusive parliamentary institutions will be examined, including electoral reforms to open parliament to a more diverse representation, and using new technologies to bring the views of citizens directly to parliamentary deliberations.

“By working together, the women Speakers attending this Summit can make major inroads on combatting inequality and promoting more inclusive societies,” added President Cuevas Barron.

Source: IPU