Women seek more than parliamentary seats
At the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, leaders emphasized that gender parity in politics requires more than just increasing the number of women in parliament. The discussion focused on ensuring women have genuine influence, leadership opportunities, and protection from harassment.
Why it matters
This shift in focus from numerical representation to substantive influence is a key trend in global efforts to achieve gender equality in governance.
ARUSHA: THE conversation on women in politics is shifting from how many women are in Parliament to how much influence they have once they get there.
That was one of the key messages emerging from the Forum of Women Parliamentarians held as part of the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Arusha on Monday, as lawmakers from different countries discussed women’s leadership, gender parity and the barriers that continue to limit women’s participation in political decisionmaking.
The official programme for the forum included discussions on cooperation with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), women’s leadership and a gender-related resolution.
IPU IPU President, Dr Tulia Ackson told parliamentarians that achieving gender equality requires more than increasing the number of women occupying parliamentary seats.
She called for political systems that give women equal access to power and allow them to participate without fear, harassment or intimidation.
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