women in government

Burma’s president is set to appoint Khin San Yi, formerly a deputy minister of planning and economic development, as the new education minister, bringing the number of woman ministers in the government to two.

Sandra Fluke, a women’s rights activist who rose to national prominence after testifying in favor of Obamacare’s birth control provision, is reportedly preparing a run for Congress. Although she hasn’t officially announced her bid for retiring Rep.

Japanese women held a record-high ratio of senior positions in the central government, but at 3 percent, they are still well behind their counterparts in other developed nations, government figures showed Jan. 31.

The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has set a goal of raising the figure to around 5 percent by the end of fiscal 2015, part of the “opportunities for women” pillar of his economic growth strategy.

We invite you to read the full article published February 1, 2014

Last night, CBS introduced us to Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who delivered the Republican response to the State of the Union Address, with just three sentences: “She chairs the House GOP conference, which means she ranks fourth in the House leadership. She’s married to a retired naval officer. They have three young children, including a two-month old.” Short, sweet, and to the point. The point being that she’s a mom.

Prior to Tuesday night, the last time Republicans tapped a woman to deliver the party's official State of the Union response came in 1995, when former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman (R) followed former President Bill Clinton's address.

Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete has appointed two women to powerful cabinet positions as the country prepares to enact a new constitution.

 In a move seen by activists as a gesture to promote gender equality, Saada Mkuya becomes the new finance minister, succeeding William Mgimwa who died on New Year’s Day. Mkuya becomes the second woman to head the ministry; Zakia Meghji led it between 2006 and 2008.

The presidential deputy for women and family affairs says Iranian women are mostly excluded from top positions in the government. ILNA reports that Shahindokht Molaverdi said in a report that except for a few women in Parliament, the unfortunate truth is there are no women in top posts.

We invite you to read the full article published January 14, 2014

Dec. 5 was the 79th anniversary of the day Turkish women were granted the right to vote and to be elected. 

The confusion in the domestic and external agenda caused this gain to be celebrated less than it deserved. 

What would it take to boost the number of women happy to put themselves forward to become MPs? Emma Sinclair, an entrepreneur, believes the controversial salary hike could hel.

At present 147 of the 650 elected MPs are women. Anything that encourages more smart, intelligent women into politics should be applauded. Anything that helps engage more women to contemplate politics as an accessible career and anything that might lure a superwoman to try her hand at becoming a Member of Parliament should be celebrated.