Press release: Women in politics: New data shows growth but also setbacks

Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Despite increases in the number of women at the highest levels of political power, widespread gender inequalities persist, according to the 2021 edition of the IPU–UN Women “Map of women in politics”. The data shows all-time highs for the number of countries with women Heads of State and/or Heads of Government, as well as for the global share of women ministers.

In Albania, elections herald historic increase in number of women MPs

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2017

In the recently concluded national elections, Albania has reached a new milestone with 28 per cent of women parliamentarians. Women candidates benefited from the gender quota and public forums organized by UN Women and partners that enabled them to outreach to the public. Efforts continue to boost women’s political participation nationally and to secure gender balance in local elections.

Media Advisory: Two events today at the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2017

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong will launch today at 12.30 p.m., the 2017 edition of the Women in Politics Map. The Map, co-produced by IPU and UN Women since 2000, includes the latest global data on the rankings of women in politics at executive and parliamentary levels of governments. This afternoon, the Commission on the Status of Women will symbolically mark the global gender pay gap, when it will interrupt its work at 4.10 p.m., when there is 23 per cent of the work-day left.

Press Release: New IPU and UN Women map shows women’s representation in politics stagnating

Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The number of women in executive government and in parliament worldwide has stagnated, with only marginal improvements since 2015, according to the data presented in the Women in Politics 2017 Map launched today by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women.

Women’s political participation gains momentum in Moldova

Date: Monday, September 26, 2016

As of 2015, Moldova ranked 64 in terms of women’s representation in the Parliament, with women holding only 22 per cent of seats in the lower house. UN Women-UNDP collaboration with the government and the Parliament contributed towards the adoption of a new law on 14 April, 2016, which for the first time, introduced gender quotas for party list candidates and cabinet nominees. Law No. 71 says that women and men must each make up a minimum of 40 per cent of every political party’s candidates and of cabinet nominees, and amends 15 other national laws.

Moldova takes historic step to promote gender equality in politics

Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2016

New law mandates minimum 40 per cent women in cabinet and party lists, gives men 14 days paid paternity leave, and prohibits sexist ads and language in media.

Morocco hosts one of the largest gatherings of Arab women parliamentarians for a gender-balanced policy agenda

Date: Thursday, March 17, 2016

Women parliamentarians from the Arab States region unite to make a difference for sustainable development. While the Arab States region is at a crucial point of transition in history, gender equality and inclusion must be on the top of the region’s priorities.

Elections herald an increase in women MPs in Turkey, but more progress is needed

Date: Friday, June 12, 2015

The Turkish Parliament will soon welcome the highest number of women Members of Parliament (MPs) in its history after parliamentary elections held on 7 June 2015. According to initial estimates, the number of women MPs elected to the Turkish Parliament increased from 79 to 98.

UN Women Executive Director to co-host Beijing+20 “Women in Power and Decision-Making” high-level event in Chile

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will make her first official visit to Chile this week to co-host a High-Level event on “Women in power and decision-making: building a different world,” with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. Taking place from 27-28 February at Estaciόn Mapocho in Santiago, participants will include global women leaders, presidents, parliamentarians, businesswomen, UN and government representatives, activists and a Nobel Laureate.

“We cannot afford to lose the potential of another generation of women” — Executive Director

Date: Friday, December 5, 2014

Speech by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the Second National Encounter of Women Legislators of the Commissions for Gender Equality and the Heads of Mechanisms for Women’s Progress in the 32 Mexican States, 4 December 2014, Mexico.

UN Women Representative appointed Minister of Equality in Sweden

Date: Friday, October 3, 2014

UN Women’s Representative in Bolivia, Åsa Regnér, has been appointed as Sweden’s new Minister for Children, Elderly and Equality, newly elected Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven announced yesterday.

Economic Empowerment of Women at the Heart of Sustainable Development - a speech by Lakshmi Puri

Date: Thursday, September 4, 2014

Keynote address by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri at the Ninth Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in Geneva, Switzerland, 4 September 2014.

Women in power and decision-making: Strengthening voices for democracy

Date: Friday, June 27, 2014

Strengthening women's role in power and decision-making is one of the 12 critical areas of concern outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which turns 20 next year. Giving women a greater voice in all spheres is central to achieving change and boosting women’s leadership and political participation is one of UN Women’s seven key areas of work.

Press Conference: Where are the women in politics?

Date: Monday, March 10, 2014

The proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments is one of the key indicators measuring progress on gender equality in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As the MDGs draw to an end, the IPU-UN Women Global Map will provide a snapshot on where women stand in politics globally.

As Nepal goes to the polls, a push to increase women’s representation

Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2013

With few female candidates and poorly financed campaigns, observers wait and watch to see if quotas will be enough to maintain the 33 per cent of women’s representation achieved in Nepal’s previous Constituent Assembly.

Strengthening Voices for Democracy

Date: Friday, September 13, 2013

For International Day of Democracy, we spotlight UN Women’s work to strengthen women’s voices, leadership and political participation.

Women make up more than one-third of Zimbabwe’s new Parliament

Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2013

At a historic 35 per cent, women’s representation has more than doubled for the 8th Parliament of Zimbabwe, due to a special Constitutional measure applied during the recent general elections.

Ban Ki-moon meets with women parliamentarians in Pakistan

Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Women law-makers convey the aspirations and concerns of Pakistani women to the UN Secretary-General at an event in Islamabad on 14 August

Asia-Pacific calls for urgent increase to low participation of women in politics

Date: Monday, February 4, 2013

As leaders from Governments and civil society across the Asia-Pacific region met for a workshop in Beijing, China this week, they called for effective measures to increase the number of women in political decision-making at all levels.

UN Women signs agreement to better track female leadership and participation at the local level

Date: Friday, February 1, 2013

As part of an MOU signed between UN Women and United Cities and Local Governments at a conference in Paris this week, both organizations will collect data on local female leadership, monitor local action plans on gender equality and create a global observatory.