Women in Power and Decision Making

UN Women

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to take part in the Government of his or her country. Throughout history women have been underrepresented in government. There are many reasons for this lack of representation, one of which being that studies show that women are often subject to violence when engaging in voting or politics. Further discriminatory laws and practices have made it difficult for women to gain greater political power.

Limits on education, lower average income for women and having to take time for caregiving have further been reasons for lack of representation.

The United Nations has been making significant initiatives to increase women in power and decision making. In 1995 at the Beijing Fourth World

Conference on women, only 11% of parliamentarians were women. Since then advancements have been made, as of 2014 women are 21% of parliamentarians.

The Beijing Conference agreement, Platform for Action highlighted women in power and decision as one of the twelve critical areas of concern. Some of the initiatives made under this agreement are to first implement measures to ensure women’s access to and full participation in power structures and decision making by doing things like reserving seats for women. One of the second steps taken is to urge steps to increase women’s ability to participate. Despite the 10% increase in women parliamentarians there is still very far for women in power and decision making to come.

1. What initiatives could further be implemented to improve women

involvement in government?

2. How can threats of violence and harassment of women in politics be

eliminated?

Sources: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/women_in_power_and_decision_makin g_3007.htm http://beijing20.unwomen.org/en/in-focus/decision-making http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/end-violence-against-women/power