Gender Equality in Political Representation

Political decentralization aims to devolve power and authority from central to local governments, thereby creating opportunities for increased participation and representation of marginalized groups, including women.

CEDAW is a landmark international treaty that specifically addresses discrimination against women and promotes gender equality. It calls for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, including in the political sphere.

Sweden was the first country to introduce a gender quota system for political representation in 1974, aiming to increase the number of women in parliament.

Women's empowerment refers to the process of increasing women's sense of self-worth, their right to have and to determine choices, and their ability to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes.

The UN has been a leading advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment, playing a crucial role in raising awareness, setting standards, and promoting policies and programs to advance gender equality worldwide.

Gender inequality refers to the unequal distribution of power, resources, and opportunities between men and women, leading to systemic discrimination and disadvantage for women.

Gender quota refers to the practice of reserving a certain number of seats in a legislative body for women, with the aim of increasing their representation and participation in decision-making.

Rwanda has the highest percentage of women in parliament, with over 60% of seats held by women.

Affirmative action refers to the practice of appointing women to leadership positions in order to achieve gender balance and address historical discrimination.

Mexico was the first country to adopt a constitutional provision guaranteeing gender equality in 1917.

Gender mainstreaming refers to the process of integrating a gender perspective into all policies, programs, and activities in order to promote gender equality and address gender-based discrimination.