Women in Power and Decision-making
Women are often dynamic leaders of change, galvanizing women and men to get involved, claim their rights, strengthen their communities and protect their planet. Their participation is fundamental to democratic governance. Yet women still have far to go towards equal representation in positions of power and leadership, whether in corporate boardrooms or presidential cabinets.
Discriminatory laws and practices hold women back, as do limits on education, income and time away from caregiving. Just over 21 per cent of parliamentarians are women, up from around 11 per cent when the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women took place in 1995. While women have made inroads in many areas, at the current pace of change, we won’t see gender parity in governments, parliaments or peace tables until the next century.
The Beijing conference agreement, known as the Platform for Action, dubbed women in power and decision-making one of 12 critical areas of concern. It made two essential commitments to change. First, it called for measures ensuring women’s equal access to and full participation in power structures and decision-making. Political quotas or positive measures are examples of these. By reserving seats or candidacies for women, they have driven dramatic increases in the number of women leaders in some countries. Second, the Platform urged steps to increase women’s ability to participate. Training on leadership, public speaking and political campaigning, for instance, grooms women to compete, win and be good leaders who can inspire others.
Women have a right to equal participation. Once in leadership roles, they can make a difference that benefits whole societies. The Inter-Parliamentary Union has found that women politicians give more attention to social welfare and legal protections, and improve trust. Taking up the Beijing commitments and rallying around women’s leadership could accelerate progress towards equal participation—right now. We can’t wait until the next century!
Fast facts
Note: 2014 reflects numbers as of 1 January.
In the words of...
Michelle Bachelet – Once we make this dream a reality…
Michelle Bachelet was sworn-in for a second term as President of Chile in March 2014. Previously, she was the first Executive Director of UN Women, from its inception in 2010 until March 2013. A longstanding women's rights advocate, she has promoted gender equality and empowerment of women throughout her distinguished political career, including as her country's first female President, between 2006 and 2010. In this editorial, she says nearly 20 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we must recognize significant progress, but challenges remain in terms of gender equality and equity.
Editor's picks
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Where: Trinidad & Tobago
Organization: UN Women
With support from UN Women's Fund for Gender Equality, a Network of NGOs in Trinidad and Tobago is training women to be more effective in running for election. They seek to learn the rules, use the rules and change the system.
A tale of three decisions
Where: India
Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization
Hansaben lives in a small village in the Indian state of Gujarat, south of Ahmedabad, with her husband and their young son. Her daughter is older and lives with her husband in a nearby city. Hansaben has made three decisions that changed her life for the better.
Strengthening Voices for Democracy
Where: Global
Organization: UN Women
From Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, UN Women is working in more than 70 countries around the world to strengthen women's voices, leadership and political participation.
Women gain ground in El Salvador's politics
Where: El Salvador
Organization: UNDP
Ana Luisa Rodríguez de González has already served four terms as the mayor of Atiquizaya. She won her first election in 2003. In that same year, of the 262 municipal councils holding elections, only 15 were led by women.
Cameroon elections catapult women
Where: Cameroon
Organization: UN Women
More than doubling their representation in the National Assembly, this unprecedented increase brings the proportion of women in the National Assembly to 31 per cent.
Women Sow Seeds of Hope in Mindanao
Where: Philippines
Organization: World Food Programme
A series of farming projects on the Philippines island of Mindanao are helping women displaced by years of conflict rebuild their lives. With WFP's support, they started a communal garden for women, which is helping them build a voice in their communities.
Tunisia's new Constitution: a breakthrough for women's rights
Where: Tunisia
Organization: UN Women
Ana Luisa Rodríguez de González has already served four terms as the mayor of Atiquizaya. She won her first election in 2003. In that same year, of the 262 municipal councils holding elections, only 15 were led by women.
New project in China training women leaders
Where: China
Organization: UNDEF
UN in Action looks at a pilot project, supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), to increase the number of women leaders was launched in the remote village of Qing Xi. Training is conducted in leadership, management and decision-making skills. The project also aims to change the male perception of women's role so they can help support women to raise their voices and shape a new future for China.
First woman ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda blazes trails in seeking justice for gender-based crimes
Where: The Netherlands
Organization: UN Women
UN Women interviews the first woman Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, on her plans to strengthen international prosecutions of sexual and gender-based crimes. In early September 2012, UN Women co-hosted a symposium on using international prosecutions to strengthen gender justice.
Resources
- Women in Politics map (IPU, UN Women, 2014)
- Gender equality in public administration (UNDP, 2014)
- UN Women's Constitutional Database (UN Women, 2014)
- Guidelines for Women's Caucuses (IPU, 2013)
- The Role of UNDP in Promoting Democratic Elections in Africa (UNDP, 2013)
- iKNOW Politics portal (IPU, IDEA, NDI, UNDP, UN Women, 2014)
- Fund for Gender Equality (UN Women, 2014)
- Extract from Funding of Political Parties and Election Campaigns: A Handbook on Political Finance (UN Women, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2014)