Women in Parliament: Beyond Numbers

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), an intergovernmental organization with member states across all continents, seeks to support sustainable democracy in both new and long-established democracies. Drawing on comparative analysis and experiences, IDEA works to bolster electoral processes, enhance political equality and participation, and develop democratic institutions and practices. It is particularly important that these institutions are inclusive and responsive if there is to be effective governance, benefiting a wide spectrum of groups in society. In this context, IDEA is committed to promoting the participation and representation of women in political life. Increasing women’s participation in politics and securing their access to political life is of particular importance to democratic development and sustainability. Efforts to promote and increase women’s political participation have taken place all around the world and brought together women from different political, social and cultural groups with the common aim of reaching the goal of gender equality. In some countries the process of reaching equal representation of women in political institutions and parliament has taken a long time – for example, in the Nordic countries – while in other countries the transition to democracy has contributed to a more rapid development and the overall change in society has opened ‘windows of opportunity’ to promote women’s participation in political life. However, no matter what the contextual differences, the struggle to reach a higher representation of women in parliament and to let the women elected make a greater impact has met stiff resistance and required a strong group of women negotiating for their rights as equal members of the society. Women all over the world have mobilized across political lines and from the standpoints of different social and cultural status and ethic affiliations to reach the goal of gender equality. The hard work has paid off and there have indeed been positive changes in most regions of the world: the average number of women in parliament has increased from 11.8 percent in 1998 to nearly 16 percent in 2005; but there is still a long way to go to reach the Beijing Platform for Action target of 30 percent women in decision-making positions. It is therefore of great importance to continue to enhance the tools that are available to women and continue the debate regarding women’s political participation. This means not only increasing the number of women represented in parliament but also moving ‘beyond numbers’ and looking at ways of increasing the effectiveness of the women who are elected and the impact of women elected to powerful positions.