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Parliaments and Representatives

Democracy and the equal participation of men and women in the political arena are closely intertwined. No parliament or any decision-making body can claim to be representative without the participation of both men and women. As stated in the Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Member Parliaments in 1997, "The achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementarity, drawing mutual enrichment from their differences."

Recent years have seen a steady increase in the number of women in parliament, though the world average of less than 22 percent remains far from the goal of parity between women and men. The election of women to the highest positions of state and government in several countries has also contributed to the changing face of politics.

While the road to election is a difficult one, the challenges for women do not stop there. Once women enter parliament or other bodies, they are faced with many new challenges. Parliament is traditionally a male-oriented domain where the rules and practices have been written by men. It is, therefore, an ongoing challenge to transform parliament into a gender-sensitive environment, to ensure that actions are gender-sensitive and to guarantee that gender is mainstreamed throughout the legislature.

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Primary results suggest sea change for women in Massachusetts politics

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Primary results suggest sea change for women in Massachusetts politics

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For the first time, a Massachusetts election was dominated by women candidates, who won primaries in five out of six statewide races on Tuesday — an unprecedented showing in a state that had trailed in women’s political representation.

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For the first time, a Massachusetts election was dominated by women candidates, who won primaries in five out of six statewide races on Tuesday — an unprecedented showing in a state that had trailed in women’s political representation.

Senegal leads way on women legislators but challenges ahead

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September 12, 2022

Senegal leads way on women legislators but challenges ahead

Senegal will break new ground Monday as West Africa's largest-ever proportion of women MPs take their seats in a newly elected legislature, stirring hopes of change in a country where patriarchal laws and attitudes are entrenched.

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Aminata Touré, ancienne Première ministre du Sénégal et nouvelle députée, dans sa maison de Dakar, le 8 septembre 2022 afp.com - JOHN WESSELS

Senegal will break new ground Monday as West Africa's largest-ever proportion of women MPs take their seats in a newly elected legislature, stirring hopes of change in a country where patriarchal laws and attitudes are entrenched.

Indonesia: More women in politics, please

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September 7, 2022

Indonesia: More women in politics, please

For the first time, Indonesia, dubbed the world’s third largest democracy, will hold the general elections — the presidential and legislative elections — and nationwide regional elections in the same year.

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For the first time, Indonesia, dubbed the world’s third largest democracy, will hold the general elections — the presidential and legislative elections — and nationwide regional elections in the same year.

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India: Ex-MLA Bijimol opens up on trauma inflicted by anti-woman colleagues in CPI

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India: Ex-MLA Bijimol opens up on trauma inflicted by anti-woman colleagues in CPI

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ES Bijimol, a three-time MLA of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has said she suffered moral attacks and degradation from her male colleagues for daring to contest in a male bastion.

The former legislator from Peermade in Kerala’s Idukki district put out a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday to share her bad experience. 

The other day, the CPI elected K Salimkumar as its Idukki district secretary, Bijimol, in her post, said she had also been nominated for the position.

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ES Bijimol, a three-time MLA of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has said she suffered moral attacks and degradation from her male colleagues for daring to contest in a male bastion.

The former legislator from Peermade in Kerala’s Idukki district put out a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday to share her bad experience. 

The other day, the CPI elected K Salimkumar as its Idukki district secretary, Bijimol, in her post, said she had also been nominated for the position.

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Liz Truss wins Tory leadership race to become Britain’s next PM

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Liz Truss wins Tory leadership race to become Britain’s next PM

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Liz Truss will become Britain’s next prime minister after winning a resounding victory over Rishi Sunak in the bitterly fought Conservative leadership contest.

The foreign secretary, who won 81,326 votes of Tory members, while the former chancellor picked up 60,399 votes takes over from Boris Johnson, who was ousted by his own MPs earlier this summer.

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Liz Truss inherits a deeply divided party lagging behind in the polls. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Liz Truss will become Britain’s next prime minister after winning a resounding victory over Rishi Sunak in the bitterly fought Conservative leadership contest.

The foreign secretary, who won 81,326 votes of Tory members, while the former chancellor picked up 60,399 votes takes over from Boris Johnson, who was ousted by his own MPs earlier this summer.

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Five things to know about Women Speakers of Parliament

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Five things to know about Women Speakers of Parliament

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It’s no secret that women have had to put up a tenacious fight to be seen and heard in  politics worldwide. As late as 2005, the number of women in parliament speaker posts stood at just over 8 per cent worldwide, reflecting a considerable lack of female representation. Although that number has increased, women still account for just 23 per cent of parliamentary speakers around the world today according to the latest IPU figures.

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It’s no secret that women have had to put up a tenacious fight to be seen and heard in  politics worldwide. As late as 2005, the number of women in parliament speaker posts stood at just over 8 per cent worldwide, reflecting a considerable lack of female representation. Although that number has increased, women still account for just 23 per cent of parliamentary speakers around the world today according to the latest IPU figures.

Las afganas exiliadas luchan a través de la Red de Mujeres Parlamentarias y Líderes Afganas

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September 5, 2022

Las afganas exiliadas luchan a través de la Red de Mujeres Parlamentarias y Líderes Afganas

Para las afganas exiliadas, huir de los talibanes no significa capitular, sino resistir, y bajo este pretexto se dedican a ayudar constantemente con la reciente fundación de la Red de Mujeres Parlamentarias y Líderes Afganas (AWPLN por sus siglas

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Para las afganas exiliadas, huir de los talibanes no significa capitular, sino resistir, y bajo este pretexto se dedican a ayudar constantemente con la reciente fundación de la Red de Mujeres Parlamentarias y Líderes Afganas (AWPLN por sus siglas

World News

Kuwait signs up 115 candidates for coming elections

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Kuwait signs up 115 candidates for coming elections

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Kuwaitis to head to the polls on September 29 to elect next parliament after National Assembly was dissolved in June.

Kuwait's Interior Ministry has received more than 115 registrations from candidates before polls to elect the next parliament after more than a year of political tension between the National Assembly and government.

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Kuwaitis to head to the polls on September 29 to elect next parliament after National Assembly was dissolved in June.

Kuwait's Interior Ministry has received more than 115 registrations from candidates before polls to elect the next parliament after more than a year of political tension between the National Assembly and government.

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