Women make up only 23.5% of Members of Parliament according to the latest available data of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. While significant strides in women’s political participation have been made since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995, which set Member States’ target of achieving gender balance in political decision-making, women are still underrepresented in political decision-making at all levels and gender balance remains an aspirational goal. Gains in women’s participation have been notable in countries that have taken proactive steps to support women’s political participation, including reforming or amending discriminatory laws, taking concrete action to address violence against women in politics and gender discrimination within parliaments, addressing gender-specific barriers, and supporting women in all forms of decision-making including at local level and in executive government.
![Activists from All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) shout slogans demanding the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill near parliament house in 2011 in New Delhi [File: Raveendran/AFP]](https://www.iknowpolitics.org/sites/default/files/styles/focus_area_news_image/public/field/image/al_jazeera_india.jpg?itok=OWhGXecU "Activists from All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) shout slogans demanding the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill near parliament house in 2011 in New Delhi [File: Raveendran/AFP]")
![Indigenous academic and activist Elisa Loncon was elected as president of the Constituent Convention during the body's first session on July 4 in Santiago [Javier Torres/AFP]](https://www.iknowpolitics.org/sites/default/files/styles/focus_area_news_image/public/field/image/000_9dx2r3.jpg?itok=z_tHHZzX "Indigenous academic and activist Elisa Loncon was elected as president of the Constituent Convention during the body's first session on July 4 in Santiago [Javier Torres/AFP]")
