We Need Women Leadersin Politics
Better Society, Strong Democracy
March 22, 2021

Women’s participation in politics

IPU’s research in 2021

A global snapshot of women inpolitics in 2021: the gains
25.5% of Parliamentarians are Women
20.9% of Speakers of Parliament are Women
5.9% of Heads of State are Women
6.7% of Heads of Government are Women
21.9% of Ministerial Positions are Held by Women
More women than ever before are at the highest levels of political power.
+0.6% more women parliamentarians+0.4% more women speakers+2 more countries with women heads of state and/or government+0.6% more women holding ministerial portfolios

However, progress is moving very slow.

A global snapshot of women inpolitics in 2021: the losses
Women accounted for at least 50 per cent ofmembers in just three parliaments: Rwanda, Cuba
and the United Arab Emirates.
Three countries in the world currently have nowomen in their parliaments: Micronesia, Papua
New Guinea and Vanuatu.
The number of countries in which women hold atleast 50 per cent of ministerial positions dropped
to 13 from 14 in 2020.
The number of countries with no women ministers
increased from 9 to 12.

What hinders women’s participation• Electoral systems- Proportional or mixed systems facilitate women’s access toparliament- Where quotas exist, closed lists tend to favour women’s access.
In the absence of quotas, open lists give women greater
opportunity to compete• Political parties- Main gatekeepers for women’s access to parliament- Fundamental role in the success or failure of women throughcandidacy, finance, endorsements, access to resources andleadership positions• Political will is crucial• Cultural norms among the electorate are also important; that is why
we need role models and to address stereotypes• Parliaments must open-up to women and be gender sensitive
institutions• Violence against women in politics- Gender-based violence, harassment and stereotypes hinder
women’s participation

The impact of quotas on women’s
access to elected positions• Quotas- The main measures used to facilitate women’s access toparliament- More often now included in electoral laws than in the past,confirming the importance of the legal framework forgender equality in politics- Must be ambitious, detailed and include implementation
mechanisms- Trend: some countries are moving towards parity but stillin many cases quotas only target a “critical mass” (30%)

Obstacles in COVID-19’s context
57 countries held national parliamentary elections in 202020 countries postponed parliamentary elections mainly due to COVID-19
What are the obstacles women faced in running for office in 2020?

Setbacks incampaigningand elections

Violence
againstwomen inpolitics

Access tofunding

Interruptionof career
paths due toeconomic
downturn

Exposure toonline
harassmentand abuse

Unequalaccess toonline
platforms

In Liberia, a woman senatorial candidate was reportedly beaten, harassed and threatened through thepoliticization of a traditional cultural practice.
Ghana experienced a 59% increase in the cost of running for political office, adding another
impediment for women’s entry into public office.
Bolivia had to postpone their elections twice due to COVID-19.
In a province in Canada, police reported a 450% increase in online threats against politicians in 2020.

Violence against women inpolitics

Violence against women in politics• A top deterrent to equal participation in politics and towomen’s full contribution to political processes• A message that women are not wanted in politics• A major prejudice to democratic institutions anddemocracy

IPU studies on VAW in parliament

Both studies revealed:• Alarming levels of sexism, harassment and violence against
women in parliaments• Widespread under-reporting• Lack of mechanisms in parliament to report the violence,protect victims and sanction perpetrators

The findings• Psychological violence affected 82% of the women MPs
respondents (85% in Europe)• 44% had received death threats or threats of rape or beating(47% in Europe)• 66% had been the target of sexist comments (68% in Europe)• 42% had been the target of online sexist attacks on social networks(58% in Europe)• 20% reported having been sexually harassed (25% in Europe andin 75% of cases by male colleagues, both from their own
political party and from parties opposed to their own)
• 26% had suffered physical violence (15% in Europe)• Such violence affects women MPs in all countries but is most acutefor women MPs active in advancing women’s rights in a national
context of general insecurity or in countries where there is a clear
reticence to respect women’s rights

Online Violence a Growing Threat in
COVID-19’s context
Reports from all regions indicate that online violence and harassment
against women in politics increased during campaigns and public life ingeneral in 2020.
In an Australian 2020 survey on women in politics, 65% of respondents
reported being exposed to internet abuse, and one in five feared physicalsafety.
Reports from Kenya indicate increased online violence and attacks againstwomen in relation to the pandemic.
Online sexual harassment of women has doubled in the United States overthe past three years.

Addressing VAWP• Assess the situation• Adopt specific policies on ending sexism and genderbased violence in parliament• Provide assistance and support services to victims• Provide complaints and investigation mechanism• Implement disciplinary sanctions against perpetrators• Raise awareness and run training

IPU Guidelines for parliaments• Mobilise for action

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3• Enshrine thestandards in a policy• Implementation

Gender-sensitive parliaments

Definition
A gender-sensitive parliament is premised on the principle ofgender equality – that is, that both men and women have an
equal right to participate in its structures and processes, without
discrimination and without recrimination.
A gender-sensitive parliament responds to the needs andinterests of both men and women in its structures,operations, methods and work.
Promoting gender equality is the responsibility of theinstitution as a whole – and of men and women alike.
By being sensitive to gender issues and favouring equal
participation of women and men, parliaments are more likely toachieve gender equality in society and to fulfil theirdemocratic mandate.
Parliaments that embody and promote gender equality
deliver better to constituents and are more legitimate.

What makes a Gender-sensitive Parliament?
Composition of parliament

Gender equality in numbers and positions

Legal and policy framework

Laws to support gender equality
Gender equality objectives and a plan of action for parliament
Gender-sensitive working policies

Working modalities, structures and mechanisms
Mainstreaming gender in all the work of parliament

Culture and infrastructure

A non-sexist environment free from gender-based violence
Facilities suited to men and women

Strategic partners

Men shouldering their gender equality responsibilities
Pro-active and gender-sensitive political parties

Diversity
Opening up parliaments to under-represented women(young women, women with disabilities, ethnic, religious
minorities…)

IPU Plan of action for parliaments
1. Increase the number of women in parliament and inparliamentary leadership positions and achieve equality
in participation
2. Strengthen gender equality legislation and policy
3. Mainstream gender equality throughout all
parliamentary work
4. Institute or improve gender-sensitive infrastructure andparliamentary culture
5. Ensure that responsibility for gender equality is sharedby all parliamentarians – men and women
6. Encourage political parties to be champions of genderequality
7. Enhance the gender sensitivity of, and gender equality
among, parliamentary staff

A strategy for…
Women’s participation: numbers and leadership positions• Women MPs chair 26% of parliamentary committees• Equal participation in committees is promoted by internal quotas
Gender mainstreaming: Gender equality committees and women’s
parliamentary caucuses• 108 parliamentary gender equality committee in 2020 (105 in 2019).
• 156 formal or informal women caucuses exist in parliaments.
• Other initiatives: networks of parliamentary leaders, gender councils andresearch centres.
Inclusive culture and infrastructure• Family-friendly environments: men and women needs taken into account.
• Facilities, language and dress code: adapted to be accommodating.
• Work-life balance: advanced by rearranging sitting hours, no sessions late
at night or during school holidays, entitling all members to parental leave.
• Arrangements for women returning after maternity leave: allowing proxyvotes; providing special rooms for breastfeeding mothers and establishingchildcare centres

Where to start the action?
IPU GSP Self-assessment toolkit
Designed in response to a growing desire by parliaments around the world to improve theway that they advance gender equality and to be models to the communities theyrepresent.
It enables the parliaments to examine critically their mode of operation and functioning; toevaluate and engage in reform; and to both progress and lead the way.
Examples of action taken after a gender self-assessment
In Colombia• The new main hall of Congress was named after the Suffragettes and artwork representing
women in the country’s history was ordered for display in Congress.
• New measures to ensure safety of staff leaving the Congress premises in late hours havebeen put in place.
• Gender training for staff is being carried out.
In Georgia• Parliament’s Gender Equality Council was granted permanent status.
• A new law on sexual harassment was adopted.
• A new electoral law introduced gender quotas in the electoral lists
In Kenya• A senior-level focal point was appointed to support MPs in advancing genderequality and a gender caucus made up of men and women MPs was set up.
• Gender training for staff was carried out for the first time.

What is needed?
•Political will is required to mobilize wide participation and ensure adequate
follow-up.

•Whoever initiates the self-assessment, it should be a Parliament-wide andParliament-led initiative.

•The process requires inclusiveness and adapting to each parliament’s
specific context and needs.

•Participants: A group as diverse as possible:•Collect data and present it so as to prompt constructive debates and ensure
they are based on evidence.

•Facilitators: One or more gender expert(s) as facilitator(s) may help but notnecessary.

Thank you!
Keep in touch:
Zeina Hilal
zh@ipu.org