The Role of Parliamentary Committees in Mainstreaming Gender and Prmoting the Status of Women

In the field of women’s political empowerment, much attention is paid to numbers nad the need to achieve the first, and significant, objective: reaching the target of 30% of women in decision-making positions. Numbers do indeed matter, and the low proportion of parliamentary seats held by women, 17% on average worldwide is proof of the long road ahead to achieve equality. The existence and functioning of parliaments without a significant proportion of women is no longer acceptable.

As part of its efforts to strengthen the capacity of parliaments to promote gender equality, the IPU convened a seminar for members of parliamentary bodies that deal with gender matters. The semibar identified ways in which the functioning of parliamentary committees dealing with gender equality and the status of women could be enhanced, and policyand legislative outcomes bolstered, to promote gender equality.

ISBN: 978-92-9142-357-6 (IPU)
Publisher: IPU
Year of Publication: 2006