One Size Does Not Fit All: Lessons Learned from Legislative Gender Commissions and Caucuses

Worldwide, women represent fifty per cent of the population. However, in the political sphere, the presence of women political leaders, party leaders, candidates and elected representatives is not proportional to this percentage. In the case of Latin America, for instance, women represent only 20 per cent of lower chambers or unicameral congresses in the region. In response to this problem, parliaments in this and other regions in the world have created gender commissions and caucuses that seek to address women’s needs and interests. Aware that the equal participation of women in government and politics is essential in building and sustaining democracy, the NDI and International IDEA have created a guide on the experiences of gender commissions and caucuses. This guide seeks to provide information to gender commissions and caucuses and to serve as a tool to help men and women legislators in different countries to exercise good practices in organizing and developing joint efforts that promote an agenda for gender equality.

ISBN: 978-91-85724-97-0
Publisher: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and National Democratic Institute for Institute Affairs
Year of Publication: 2010