International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics

12/08/2026

Gender equality needs bold action.

The HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 Parity Report highlights the work of 30 global leaders, 10 Heads of State, 10 CEOs and 10 University Presidents, who are putting gender equality at the heart of institutional change.

Their commitments show what is possible when leaders move beyond incremental steps:

📌 Ending child marriage and helping girls return to education
📌 Increasing women’s representation in leadership
📌 Creating safer campuses and addressing gender-based violence
📌 Challenging stereotypes and building more inclusive workplaces
📌 Expanding opportunities for women and girls in STEM and education

The lesson is powerful: change becomes possible when gender equality is treated as a leadership priority and when commitments are backed by action and accountability. https://iknowpolitics.org/en/learn/knowledge-resources/heforshe-impact-10x10x10-parity-report-launch

30 global leaders unveiled their groundbreaking solutions for gender equality today as part of UN Women’s HeForShe movement.

10/08/2026

La représentation des jeunes au Parlement stagne pour la première fois en 12 ans.

Le dernier rapport de l’Inter-Parliamentary Union (Union interparlementaire -UIP) envoie un message clair : malgré une mobilisation croissante des jeunes à travers le monde, ceux-ci restent largement sous-représentés dans la prise de décision politique.

📌 Seuls 2,8 % des parlementaires dans le monde ont 30 ans ou moins, un chiffre inchangé depuis 2023.
📌 37,1 % des chambres parlementaires ne comptent aucun parlementaire âgé de 30 ans ou moins.
📌 La proportion de jeunes femmes parlementaires est passée de 1,4 % à 1,2 %.

À l’heure où la moitié de la population mondiale a moins de 30 ans, cet écart est préoccupant. Lorsque les jeunes sont absents des espaces de décision, les institutions risquent d’être moins représentatives et la confiance du public dans la démocratie peut s’en trouver fragilisée.

Des exemples de progrès existent toutefois. L’Arménie, le Turkménistan et l’Équateur affichent actuellement les plus fortes proportions de parlementaires âgés de 30 ans ou moins selon le classement de l’UIP. Le Sénégal a également enregistré une hausse notable du nombre de jeunes parlementaires à la suite de ses récentes élections. L’UIP identifie plusieurs mesures concrètes pour renforcer la participation des jeunes : quotas pour les jeunes, abaissement de l’âge minimum pour se porter candidat, groupes parlementaires de jeunes et autres voies d’accès au Parlement.

Son analyse montre également que les pays appliquant des limites de mandat comptent généralement une proportion plus élevée de jeunes parlementaires.

Le rapport 2025 constitue la sixième édition de l’étude de l’UIP sur la participation des jeunes dans les parlements nationaux.

10/08/2026

Youth representation in parliament has stalled for the first time in 12 years.

The latest Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) report sends a clear message: despite growing youth mobilization around the world, young people remain dramatically underrepresented in political decision-making.

📌 Only 2.8% of MPs worldwide are aged 30 or under; unchanged since 2023.
📌 37.1% of parliamentary chambers have no MPs aged 30 or under.
📌 The proportion of young women MPs has fallen from 1.4% to 1.2%.

At a time when half of the world’s population is under 30, this gap matters. When young people are absent from decision-making spaces, institutions risk becoming less representative and public trust in democracy can suffer. There are also examples of progress. Armenia, Turkmenistan and Ecuador currently have the highest proportions of MPs aged 30 or under in the IPU ranking, while Senegal has seen a notable increase in younger parliamentarians following recent elections.

The IPU identifies practical measures that can help: youth quotas, lower age requirements for candidates, youth caucuses and other pathways into parliament. Its analysis also finds that countries with term limits tend to have higher proportions of young MPs. https://iknowpolitics.org/en/learn/knowledge-resources/youth-participation-national-parliaments-2025

This 2025 report is the sixth IPU review of youth participation in national parliaments.

10/08/2026

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

Despite decades of progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in political leadership. Women hold just 27.5% of parliamentary seats globally, and only 28 countries are currently led by a woman.

The reasons go beyond legal barriers and institutional challenges. Deeply rooted social norms continue to shape perceptions of who belongs in leadership, influencing opportunities, ambitions, and decision-making from households and classrooms to political parties and the media.

Explore how these invisible barriers continue to hold women back and what it takes to transform them. Because achieving gender equality in politics is not only about changing laws, it is also about changing mindsets.

Invisible barriers: How social norms keep women out of leadership roles

07/08/2026

Who shapes our ideas of leadership?
The answer is: all of us.

From the stories shared in the media, to the examples children see at home and in school, to the decisions made within political parties and institutions, social norms influence who is encouraged to lead and who is left behind.

What can you do?
✨ Challenge stereotypes when you hear them.
📢 Amplify women’s voices and celebrate their achievements.
🌱 Encourage girls to take on leadership opportunities.
🗳️ Support leaders and policies that advance gender equality.

Changing these norms is just as important as changing laws. It takes collective action to ensure women’s leadership is no longer the exception, but the expectation. https://iknowpolitics.org/en/learn/knowledge-resources/time-act-everyone-has-role-making-womens-leadership-norm

Advancing women’s political participation needs to go beyond legal and policy reforms.

05/08/2026

Tackling violence against women in politics is vital not only for workplace conduct but also a prerequisite for functioning democracy.

A new publication from the Inter-Parliamentary Union highlights practical measures that parliaments can take to prevent and address violence against women in politics. Drawing on case studies and emerging good practices from around the world, it shows how sustained institutional reform can create safer, more inclusive political environments.

The message is clear: when women are excluded, threatened, or silenced, democratic institutions lose credibility. Parliaments that establish clear standards, independent reporting mechanisms, survivor-centred procedures, and strong accountability not only protect their members but also strengthen democracy itself.

Link to the publication:

This publication, Addressing violence against women in politics: Institutional responses and good practices by parliaments, offers practical evidence and guidance on how parliaments address violence against women in politics.

03/08/2026

Inclusive parliaments are stronger parliaments.

Progress towards gender equality in politics is not only about increasing the number of women in parliament; it is also about ensuring that women in all their diversity are represented.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union's Women in Parliament in 2025 report highlights important milestones, from the election of more women with disabilities, Indigenous women and young women, to reforms making parliaments more accessible and inclusive. These achievements demonstrate that when institutions better reflect the societies they serve, they become more responsive to people's needs.

Yet women from historically disadvantaged groups remain significantly underrepresented in political decision-making. Achieving truly representative democracy requires intentional action: from better data collection and inclusive electoral systems to diversity-sensitive parliamentary practices and innovative measures such as nested quotas.

The year 2025 saw mixed progress on women’s overall representation in parliament, but a key development was the visibility and election of several women from historically disadvantaged groups, including women with disabilities, young women and women from indigenous communities, as shown in the IP

30/07/2026

Over two days in Bangkok, leaders, practitioners, gender equality advocates, and youth representatives from South Asia and Southeast Asia came together for the South Asia and Southeast Asia Inter-Regional Dialogue on Advancing the Transformation of Gender Social Norms. The dialogue explored how social norms shape women’s and young people’s participation and representation in leadership and decision-making, while identifying practical pathways for transformative change.

Discussions focused on regional trends in political participation, the influence of gendered social norms, electoral processes, violence against women in politics in the digital age, and the importance of engaging men as allies for gender equality. Participants exchanged experiences, reflected on common challenges, and developed actionable commitments to advance more inclusive, representative, and democratic societies.

Organised under the WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative, and bringing together International IDEA, UN Women Asia and the Pacific, and the European Union, the dialogue reinforced the importance of collective action, learning across regions, and transforming the narratives and structures that continue to limit the political participation of women and youth.


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