What are the issues?

On October 11, Mongolians head to the polls for nationwide local elections. This latest round of elections, which follows the country’s June parliamentary elections, features more than 17,000 candidates competing for more than 8,000 seats across a vast expanse of territory roughly the size of western Europe. Available seats include sub-national, provincial, and soum (county) Citizen Representative Khural (local governing councils).

Mongolia's electoral reforms have significantly transformed the political landscape, ushering a record number of women into Parliament. This change follows the May 2023 constitutional amendment, which expanded parliamentary seats from 76 to 126 and introduced a mandatory 30 per cent candidate quota for women. As a result, the number of female MPs has increased dramatically, from 13 to 32.

The Standing Committee on State Structure of the Parliament, in cooperation with the UN Promoting Gender Equality and Women's Participation in Decision-making project, organized the First Conference of Women Parliamentarians on September 7, 2022.

The Conference of Women Parliamentarians 2023 is to be organized in Chinggis Khaan Hall at the State Palace on December 12, 2023, Montsame notes.

The achievement is part of a long trek toward gender equality in Mongolia’s foreign policy.

Last year, Mongolia celebrated its 110th anniversary as an independent country. Along with that, modern Mongolia has notched 110 years of national diplomacy. Amid the task of foreign policymaking, the foreign ministry has also made developments in diversifying its workforce. The current office of the foreign ministry appointed the highest number of female ambassadors in the history of modern Mongolia.