Established in 2007, iKNOW Politics is a joint project of International IDEA, the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
Research over the past few decades reveals that women in politics continue to be at a disadvantage when it comes to media coverage. When reporters cover women in politics, they often use terms that emphasize women's traditional roles and focus on their appearance.
Disasters and crises often exacerbate existing inequalities, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. While an estimated 80 countries and territories postponed national and local elections, at least 158 held elections despite COVID-19 related concerns and restrictions.
![Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a poll say they would support a woman in their family entering politics, but only 17.4 percent of the deputies elected to the Turkish parliament in 2018 were women [File: Dilara Senkaya/Reuters]](https://www.iknowpolitics.org/sites/default/files/styles/home_news_image/public/field/image/turkey_aj.jpg?itok=H90l1EmM "Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a poll say they would support a woman in their family entering politics, but only 17.4 percent of the deputies elected to the Turkish parliament in 2018 were women [File: Dilara Senkaya/Reuters]")
