Unlocking the Potential of Women in Legislative Houses. Indian Parliament is addressing gender representation with the Women Reservation Bill 2023, proposing 33% reserved seats for women. Global South countries like Rwanda and Cuba have achieved over 50% women in their legislatures, but challenges persist in some nations. 

Women have made great progress in the Indian Parliament in recent years, but gender representation remains an issue. Women have historically participated in politics in India, with noteworthy people such as Indira Gandhi, who served as Prime Minister of India, and many more holding major political roles.

The Indian Parliament recently had a special session to consider and enact the Women Reservation Bill 2023, which proposes to reserve 33% of seats in both the Parliament and state assemblies for women.

This decision underscores a global trend towards greater gender parity in legislative chambers, with several nations in the Global South leading the way.

The Global South's Remarkable Strides in Gender Parity

The Global South includes around 130 developing nations from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific Islands, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Despite frequently experiencing problems related to inadequate eco-political frameworks, these countries are making great achievements towards female empowerment at an unprecedented rate.

Globally, the percentage of women in parliaments ranges from 24.6% to 26.5%, with gender parity steadily increasing. Furthermore, the proportion of women in cabinet seats is increasing.

The Pioneers of Gender Parity

Six nations in the Global South have accomplished a historic milestone by having 50% or more women in their legislatures: Rwanda (61%), Cuba (53%), Nicaragua (52%), Mexico (50%), New Zealand (50%), and the United Arab Emirates (50%). These countries show the extraordinary progress being made in political gender equality.

Furthermore, 13 European countries, six African countries, three Latin American and Caribbean countries, and one Asian country have attained or exceeded the 40% milestone.

A Regional Breakdown

Women have 36% of parliamentary seats in Latin America and the Caribbean, followed by 32% in Europe and Northern America. Sub-Saharan Africa is represented by 26%, followed by Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (22%), Oceania (20%), Central and Southern Asia (19%), and Northern Africa and Western Asia (18%).

Notable Achievements

In terms of gender equality in politics, Australia's Senate made history by electing women to 56.6% of its members, the largest proportion of any upper chamber in the world.

Furthermore, by the end of 2022, at least 30% of seats in 64 nations will be held by women, an increase from the previous year's total.

Leaders of the Pack

Rwanda is in the forefront, with women holding over 60% of parliamentary seats and being the first country to establish a female-majority parliament in 2008. Women outweigh males in legislative bodies in Cuba (53%), Nicaragua (52%), and other countries.

Countries such as New Zealand, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates have approximately equal gender distributions, with Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, and South Africa not far behind.

The United Arab Emirates is notable for achieving gender parity in 2019 as a result of a presidential order, a remarkable reversal from having no women in its Federal National Council prior to 2006.

Other Countries Making Strides

Other nations, such as Dominica, Chad, Mali, and Uzbekistan, have made substantial strides in recent years.

Sierra Leone, where women presently control 13% of seats, has approved a new gender empowerment law to ensure that following the June elections, women make up at least 30% of the parliament and government.

Gender Equality in Cabinet Positions

Despite gains in legislative participation, women make up barely one-fifth of worldwide government ministers, with many holding portfolios pertaining to health, family, social affairs, or the environment. Spain, Albania, Colombia, Rwanda, Canada, and France all have female-majority or equal-gender cabinets.

Challenges Remain

While several countries are making significant progress, others are falling behind. Yemen, for example, has no women in the lower house and one in the upper house. After a 14-year wait, Vanuatu will get its first female legislator in 2022.

Women have fewer than 10% of parliamentary seats in more than 20 nations, including Nigeria (3.6%), Qatar (4.4%), and Iran (5.6%).

Despite having the world's first female prime minister in 1960, Sri Lanka has failed to expand women's representation in its parliament, with women accounting for roughly 5% of the parliament over the previous 25 years.

Setbacks in Algeria and Tunisia

Algeria suffered a major loss in female parliamentary participation, falling from 26% to 8% owing to changes in its quota system in 2021, despite women accounting for 37% of candidates.

Tunisia, long seen as a regional pioneer in women's rights, has experienced a drop in the number of female legislators following recent elections. Electoral system changes have made it more difficult for women to run for and win seats.

The Ongoing Struggle in Afghanistan: The Taliban's conquest of Afghanistan in 2021 essentially eliminated women from public life.

Women in Leadership Positions

As of January 1, 2023, 34 women were serving as Heads of State or Government in 31 nations. Gender equality in the top positions of power, however, will not be attained for another 130 years if current trends continue.

Only 17 countries have a female President, and 19 have a female Prime Minister.

Progress in Cabinet Positions

According to UN Women data, women make up 22.8% of Cabinet members in charge of Ministries and policy areas as of January 1, 2023. Gender parity in Cabinet roles leading policy areas has been achieved in thirteen countries.

Women and gender equality, Family and children affairs, Social inclusion and development, Social protection and social security, and Indigenous and minority affairs are the top five ministries held by female Cabinet Ministers.

Empowering Grassroots Governance

While many nations continue to struggle with gender balance, legally mandated candidate quotas have been critical in promoting progress. Women's representation in parliaments and municipal governments is much higher in nations with such quotas than in countries without such legislation.

According to research, women's leadership in political decision-making processes leads to better outcomes. In India, for example, communities with women-led councils saw a 62% increase in the number of drinking water projects. In Norway, the participation of women on local councils was associated with higher levels of daycare coverage.

Women's political leadership transcends party boundaries and advocates gender equality concerns such as eliminating gender-based violence, lobbying for maternity leave and childcare, adopting gender-equality legislation, and advocating for democratic change.

These comments highlight the significance of gender diversity in politics, as well as the continuous worldwide movement to empower women in all facets of government.