Women making gains in decision-making

A report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) says that worldwide, women are making progress in national parliaments but that true equality is a long way off.

Women fared best in Rwanda, Norway and Sweden, but there are no women MPs in nine countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan.
On average, women made up about 20% of the deputies elected in the 39 countries which held parliamentary elections last year, the IPU report said.
The numbers fall short of UN targets set in 1995 of a minimum of 30% women lawmakers in all parliaments.

Don’t forget, this year’s CSW is focusing on women and decision-making. For more information on women’s political representation, check out the Women’s Environment and Development Organization’s 50/50 campaign.