IPU overview | women in politics

Julie Ballington
Programme Officer – Partnership Betweeen Men & Women
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Chemin Du Pommier 5
PO Box 330
CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex
Genva, Switzerland
Tel: 41-22-9194149/50
Fax: 41-22-9194160


THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
Women’s Political Representation: Global Trends and Challenges
Outline of Presentation:

1.  Why Women in Parliament?

2.  Global and regional trends of women in parliament

3.  Recent achievement and countries with 30% women

4.  Factors influencing women’s participation


     
1. Why more women in parliaments?An Approach to Democracy
____________________________________________________________________

The IPU Universal Declaration on Democracy (1997):

     “The achievement of genuine democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementarity, drawing mutual enrichment from their differences.”

Why more women in parliaments?International instruments
____________________________________________________________________

The Beijing Platform for Action (1995)
     “Women’s empowerment and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society, including participation in the decision-making process and access to power, are fundamental for the achievement of equality, development and peace.”



2. Women in Parliament 1945-2005
________________________________________________________________________

World Averages in Perspective1995-2005
Regional averages of women in Parliament: 1995, 2000, 2005
Regional Average: Pacific States
3. Recent Achievements
________________________________________________________________________

• 20.5% of MPs elected in 2005 were women, up from 11% in 2000.

• Nine countries elected more than 30% women

• Elections in post-conflict states:


• Afghanistan = 27.3%


• Burundi = 30.5%


• Iraq = 31.5% and 25.5% women


• Liberia = 12.5%

• Parliaments with less than 10% women: 66 (37%)

• Kuwait: Right to vote and stand for election granted in May 2005

Countries with 30% women
Women in the Executive
________________________________________________________________________


4. Factors Influencing Women’s Participation
________________________________________________________________________

• Special measures:


• Reserved seats; Candidate quotas; Political party quotas


• Training and candidate support

• Political parties and movements

• Electoral Systems

• Political Culture:


• Awareness raising campaigns


• Addressing stereotypes and working with media

Factors Influencing Women’s Participation
________________________________________________________________________

• International discourses:


• CEDAW


• BPFA


• Resolution 1325


• MDGs

• International and regional organisations, working with national bodies and civil society

• Political will

Conclusion
_____________________________________________________________________

• Research into Parliamentary Committees dealing with gender equality

• Survey research on women in politics, and the contribution of parliamentarians to the promotion of gender equality