Ligestillingsudvalget 2020-21
LIU Alm.del Bilag 59
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COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT
W
OMEN IN
P
ARLIAMENT
-2020
IWD 2021 C
AMPAIGN
This tool kit is designed for IPU Members, leadership, staff and partners. It contains
the following:
1. Key messages
2. Ready-made social Media posts
3. Press Release
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
All the assets are or will be available on a dedicated
Trello Board
which we will
update regularly with new material.
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1. Key messages
Facts and figures
•
•
For the first time in 2020, women made up more than a quarter of parliamentarians. The global
average of women in parliament has reached 25.5%, representing a yearly increase of 0.6%.
Although progress is steady, and the pandemic did not halt the upward trend, it is
painstakingly slow. At the current rate, it will take another 50 years before achieving gender
parity in parliament.
As of 1 January 2020, only 3 parliaments have 50% or more women members (Rwanda, Cuba
and the United Arab Emirates). 20 others have between 40 and 50%.
•
Women in Leadership
•
•
•
Women held speaker positions in all regions of the world in 2020, with regional variations.
Globally, 58 women held speaker roles in 2020, an increase of one from the previous year,
representing a global average of 20.9%.
The United States made history in 2020 with the first election of a woman as Vice President.
Vice President Kamala Harris also constitutionally became President of the Senate. With
Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House of Representatives, both chambers of the US
Congress are now presided over by women.
Women’s role in transition and peace processes and constitutional reform is key to their
political empowerment across the board.
•
Impact of Covid-19
•
•
The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on elections and campaigning in 2020.
National parliamentary elections were postponed in nearly 20 countries, but proceeded in 57.
The economic downturn caused by the pandemic exacerbated existing gendered socio-
economic inequalities, and adversely affected
women’s ability to campaign for
office and
access campaign funding.
As people were obliged to stay in their homes, online violence against women became even
more widespread and was a particular threat for women's participation in public life in 2020
In some regions of the world, women were disadvantaged in comparison to men with access
to information on Covid-19 and protection methods from the virus.
Flexible and remote workplace practices may allow more women and men to combine
caretaking with political career aspirations. Technology-driven parliamentary practices such as
virtual voting and sittings helped promote participation by members for whom travel is difficult,
including those with disabilities or young children.
•
•
•
•
Peer-to-peer learning and greater engagement with virtual networks of women
parliamentarians internationally can contribute positively to the resilience and empowerment of
women MPs through the pandemic and beyond.
 LIU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 59: Aktuelt materiale modtaget fra Inter-Parlamentarisk Unions sekretariat i anledning af kvindernes internationale kampdag den 8. marts 2021
Quotas
•
•
Well-designed and ambitious gender quotas remain critical success factors for women to be
better represented in parliament.
Electoral gender quotas were applied in 25 of the 57 countries that had parliamentary
renewals in 2020. On average, parliaments with quotas elected 11.8% more women to single
and lower chambers and 7.4% more women to upper chambers.
Electoral systems play a role in the adoption
–
but not the effectiveness
–
of quotas. Quotas
were much less likely to be used in countries with majoritarian electoral systems in 2020. But
when they were in place, quotas in majoritarian electoral systems performed as well as quotas
in proportional or mixed electoral systems
New or revised quota policies helped protect some gains against instability. But the
importance of adequate enforcement measures and sustained political will cannot be
overstated. A lack of political will on the part of some political parties to respect quota laws
and to non-enforcement of those laws by the electoral authorities resulted in stagnation and
sometimes regression in certain countries.
•
•
Regional messages
1.
Sub-Saharan Africa
•
Women represented 25% of parliamentarians in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 (+0.6 from 2019),
the
world’s third ranking region after
the Americas and Europe. In sub-Saharan Africa, Mali
and Niger made significant
gains in women’s representation, despite grave security
challenges
During parliamentary renewals in 2020, sub-Saharan African countries that had previously
attained comparatively
strong levels of women’s representation
(30% or higher) held the
course. These included Burundi, Tanzania and Cameroon.
States with low levels of women in parliament (less than 15%) had divergent outcomes.
Representation remained very low in some countries, including Liberia, Madagascar and
Ghana. Burkina Faso experienced further backsliding.
Several elections were postponed to 2021 in some countries, including Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon
and Somalia, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
•
•
•
2.
Americas
•
The Americas outpaced other regions with 32.4% women in parliament. This was despite
political upheaval experienced across Latin America, in particular Chile, Colombia and
Ecuador. In the United States, 2020 marked the highest levels
in history of women’s
representation in its national legislature, at 26.9% of the combined chambers.
The pandemic took a uniquely large toll on Latin American economies, which will only lead to
further inequality in what is already the world’s most unequal
region. Despite the impact of
Covid-19, feminist social movements played a significant role in shaping the region’s
political
landscape in multiple countries.
The
greatest improvements in women’s parliamentary
representation occurred in the
Caribbean sub-region, with the best performers being Jamaica (+11.1 points) and Guyana
(+5.2 points). The small parliaments of Saint Kitts and Nevis (15 members) and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines (23 members) also registered significant percentage gains (+11.7 points
•
•
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and +5.1 points respectively). In upper houses, the most notable gains were achieved in
Jamaica (+14.2 points), Belize (+13.2 points) and Trinidad and Tobago (+8.4 points).
3.
Europe
•
The most significant overall gains in the region were registered in Croatia (+10.6 points) and
Ireland’s
upper house (+10 points). Three chambers experienced minor setbacks in the
following countries: Romania, Montenegro and the Czech Republic.
Four countries exceeded 30%
women’s
parliamentary representation, Ireland (40% women in
the upper house), Serbia (38.8%, unicameral), North Macedonia (35.8%, unicameral) and
France (33.3%, upper house). With the exception of Ireland's indirectly elected upper house,
these countries followed a similar trend from previous electoral
cycles.
Among European countries that held elections in 2020, only Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic
and Romania failed to elect at least a 20% share of women to parliament.
•
•
4. Middle East and North Africa
•
Women’s representation in parliaments in the MENA region
grew by 1.2%, reaching 17.8% in
2020. The proportion of women in parliament in the MENA region is the lowest globally.
Wide divides exist among parliaments renewed in 2020, ranging from no seats won by women
in Kuwait to a record high number in Egypt following the introduction of quotas. The lower
house now has 26.2% of seats held by women, up from 14.9% previously.
•
5.
Asia
•
•
The average proportion of women in Asian parliaments rose slightly to 20.4% in 2020.
Gains in Asia
were driven by women’s representation
in upper houses in Tajikistan,
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Of parliamentary renewals in 2020, only Nepal exceeded 30%,
sustaining a strong decade-long record on women in parliament.
6.
Pacific
•
•
With the exception of New
Zealand, women’s representation
in parliaments in the Pacific
region remained consistently low or entirely absent in elections held in 2020.
On average,
women’s representation
accounted for only 6.4% of newly elected houses in the
three Pacific Island Countries that held elections in 2020. Kiribati elected four women to its 45-
member unicameral parliament. Palau elected one woman to each chamber of its parliament.
Whereas Vanuatu failed to elect any women to its Parliament.
New Zealand’s new government
made history with more women, people of colour, LGBTQ+
people and Maori MPs than at any time in the past.
•
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2. Social Media
#ChoosetoChallenge #genderequality #IWD #IWD2021 #InternationalWomensDay
https://twitter.com/IPUparliament
https://www.facebook.com/InterParliamentaryUnion/
https://www.instagram.com/ipu.parliament_official/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/inter-parliamentary-union/
https://www.youtube.com/user/iparliamentaryunion
Handles/Who’s
who
Name
Duarte Pacheco
Martin Chungong
UN Women
Women Political Leaders
UK Government Equalities Office
UK org for equal rep
Organisation
& title
President, IPU
Secretary
General, IPU
Twitter
@IPUPresident
@MartinChungong
@UN_women
@wpleadersorg
@geogovuk
@5050Parliament
@unwomen
@unwomen
Facebook
@duarte.pa
checo.3154
Instagram
@duartepac
heco9437
European Parliament Committee
@ep_genderequal
for Women's Rights
Center American Women & Politics
@cawp_ru
Non-profit NGO She Should Run
Women in the World
Int Centre for Research on Women
News Hub for Women
Economic Empowerment-
UN_Women
Women's Rights in Development
Advocate for gender equality
Media account-UN Women
Women’s Media Centre
Independent Women’s Forum
@SheShouldRun
@WomenintheWorld
@ICRW
@WomensAgenda
@Empower_Women
@AWID
@WomenDeliver
@UNWomenWatch
@womensmediacntr
@IWF
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Executive Committee
Name
David
McGuinty
Country
Canada
ExCom title
IPU Vice-
President
Twitter
@DavidMcGui
nty
@jplchile
@SenatorRabb
ani
@WidegrenCe
cilia
@AdjiKanoute
@ceciliawi
degren
@jplchile
Facebook
Instagram
@davidmc
guinty
@TodosxL
etelier
@Senator
MianRaza
Rabani
@Widegre
nCecilia
@Adji
Diarra
Mergane
Kanoute-
Honorable
Député
@EstherA
nyakun
@beatrizar
gimon
@susankih
ika
@Argimon
Beatriz
@
Senator
Juan Pablo
Chile
Member
Letelier
Raza Rabbani Pakistan Member
Cecilia
Widegren
Adji Diarra
Mergane
Kanouté
Sweden
Senegal
Member
Member
Esther
Anyakun
Beatriz
Argimón
Susan
Wakarura
Kihika
Melvin Bouva
Uganda
Uruguay
Kenya
Member
Member
President of
the Forum of
Women MPs
President of
the Forum of
Young MPs
@EstherAnyak
un
@beatrizargim
on
@susankihika
SusanKihi
ka
@Melvin
Bouva
Surinam
@MelvinWJB
Influencers and Members of the Bureau of Women MPs
Name
Jacinda
Ardern
Nancy
Pelosi
AOC
Kamala
Harris
Charity
Kathambi
Chepkwony
Fawzia
Country
Prime Minister, NZ
Speaker of the
House of Reps, USA
Democratic MP,
USA
Vice President and
Speaker of the
Senate, USA
Kenyan MP
Twitter
@jacindaardern
@SpeakerPelosi
@RepAOC
@VP
@KamalaHarris
@honKathambi
Facebook
Instagram
Afghanistan
@FawziaKoofi77
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Koofi
Zobia
Khurshid
Jenny
Alvarez
Lesia
Vasylenko
Salma
Ataullahjan
Gordana
Comic
Member of
Islamabad youth
parliament
Chilean MP, Bureau
of Women MPs
Ukrainian MP,
Bureau of Women
MPs
Canadian MP,
Bureau of Women
MPs
Serbian Deputy
Speaker, Bureau of
Women MPs
@ZobiaKhurshid
@jennyalvarezv
@Prensa_Jenny
@lesiavasylenko
@SenatorSalma
@SenatorS
alma
@SenatorSal
ma
@GordanaComic
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Postcards
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Posts
The below posts are drafted for twitter but can be amended for Facebook/Instagram.
1. For the first time in 2020, women made up more than a quarter of
#parliamentarians.
The global average of women in parliament has reached 25.5%,
representing a yearly increase of 0.6%.
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020
#IWD2021 #ChoosetoChallenge
2. While
#Covid19
did not halt progress, it is painstakingly slow.
At the current rate, it will take 50 yrs before achieving
#genderequality
in parliament.
Only 3 parliaments have >50% women (Rwanda��������, Cuba�������� and the
UAE��������).
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020
#IWD2021 #ChoosetoChallenge
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3. Women held speaker positions all over the world in 2020, with
regional variations.
Globally, 58 women are speakers, an increase of
1⃣
from 2019,
representing a global average of 20.9%.
There is much more to be done!
➡️
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020
#IWD2021 #ChoosetoChallenge
4. Elections were postponed in nearly 20 countries due to
#Covid19
in
2020.
The economic downturn caused by the pandemic exacerbated
existing gendered socio-economic inequalities, and affected
women’s ability to campaign.
➡️
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020
#IWD2021 #ChoosetoChallenge
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5. Obligations to stay at home due to
#covid19
lockdowns meant
online violence and harassment proliferated against women even
more, and was a particular threat to women's participation and
#genderequality
in public life in 2020.
➡️
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020
#IWD2021 #ChoosetoChallenge
6. Flexible workplace practices may allow more women & men to
combine
#caretaking
with political careers.
Virtual voting & sittings promoted participation by
#MPs
for whom
travel is difficult, including those with disabilities or children.
➡️
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020 #IWD2021
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7. Greater engagement with virtual international networks of women
#parliamentarians
can increase resilience & empowerment of
women
#MPs.
In some regions, women found it more difficult to access info on
#Covid19
and protection methods from the virus.
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020 #IWD2021
8. Women’s
role in
transitions of power, peace processes and
constitutional reform is key to their political empowerment across
the board.
When women step up and
#choosetochallenge,
their participation
makes a difference to how government works.
➡️
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020 #IWD2021
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9. Gender
#quotas
remain critical success factors for women to be
better represented in
#parliament.
Electoral systems play a role in the adoption
–
but not the
effectiveness
–
of quotas.
➡️
ipu.org/news/women-in-parliament-2020
#IWD2021 #ChoosetoChallenge
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3. Press Release
Proportion of women MPs inches up but gender parity still far off
EMBARGO Geneva, 5 March 2021.
Following elections in 2020, the global proportion of women in parliament reached a record 25.5 per
cent, representing an increase of 0.6
points compared with 2019, according to the IPU’s latest
Women
in Parliament report.
The IPU has tracked women’s participation
in parliament for decades, allowing it to measure progress
and setbacks. Every year, the IPU publishes a report to coincide with
International Women’s Day on 8
March. Although progress has been steady over the past few years, it is still excruciatingly slow. At the
current rate, it will take another 50 years before gender parity is achieved in parliaments worldwide. As
at 1 January 2021, women accounted for 50 per cent or more of members in just three parliaments
(Rwanda, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates).
The President of the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians and Kenyan MP, Susan Kihika, said
“While we note that a quarter of MPs
in the world are women, we see how this still falls far short of
representing half the world’s population. Unleashing the
full potential of women who make up that 50
per cent should be our number
one priority.”
The IPU President, Duarte Pacheco, said: “Achieving
gender equality in parliaments is a shared
responsibility of men and women, and especially of men and women MPs, who by definition, are
elected to lead. Only by working together and taking strong action can we move forward and
accelerate the pace
of change.”
The IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong, said: “Progress is being made, but parliaments must be
more open to women. They should be gender-sensitive and transform their functioning and structures
to facilitate work-life balance for women and men, have zero tolerance towards all forms of violence
against women in politics, promote legal change for better inclusion of women and be key actors in
women’s political empowerment.”
COVID-19
and women’s political representation
The IPU Women in Parliament report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on
elections and campaigning in 2020. National parliamentary elections were postponed in nearly 20
countries, mainly due to COVID-19, but went ahead in 57 countries overall in 2020. The economic
downturn caused by the pandemic exacerbated existing gendered socio-economic inequalities, and
adversely affected women’s
ability to campaign for office and access
campaign funding. Online
violence against women has become even more widespread, and has been a particular threat to
women's participation in public life.
However, the shift to remote, technology-driven parliamentary practices may have a potentially
positive long-term impact for women in parliament. Virtual voting and sittings have helped promote
participation by members for whom travel is difficult, including those with disabilities or with young
children. Flexible and remote workplace practices may allow more women and men to combine caring
responsibilities with political career aspirations.
 LIU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 59: Aktuelt materiale modtaget fra Inter-Parlamentarisk Unions sekretariat i anledning af kvindernes internationale kampdag den 8. marts 2021
Likewise, peer-to-peer learning and greater engagement with virtual networks of women
parliamentarians internationally can contribute positively to the resilience and empowerment of women
MPs through the pandemic and beyond.
Women in the top leadership of Parliament
Globally, 58 women held speaker positions in 2020, an increase of one from the previous year,
representing a global average of 20.9 per cent. Women held speaker positions in all regions of the
world in 2020, with regional variations.
The United States made history in 2020 with the election for the first time of a woman as Vice
President. Vice President Kamala Harris also constitutionally becomes President of the Senate. With
Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House of Representatives, both chambers of the US Congress are
now presided over by women.
Well-designed quotas are the key to progress
Electoral gender quotas were applied in 25 of the 57 countries that had parliamentary renewals in
2020. On average, parliaments with quotas elected 11.8 per cent more women to single and lower
chambers and 7.4 per cent more women to upper chambers.
Generally, well-designed and adequately enforced quotas acted as a shield against backsliding in
2020.
Progress in all regions of the world in 2020
Once again, the Americas outpaced other regions with women making up 32.4 per cent of MPs. This
was despite political upheaval experienced across Latin America, in particular in Chile, Colombia and
Ecuador. In the United States, 2020 marked the highest levels in history
of women’s
representation in
its national legislature, at 26.9 per cent of the two chambers combined.
In sub-Saharan Africa, Mali and Niger made significant gains in women’s
representation, despite
grave
security challenges. New or revised quota policies helped protect these gains against instability. These
countries are testament to the fact that women's role in transition processes is key to their political
empowerment.
In Europe, of 14 parliamentary renewals in 2020, four countries
–
Ireland, Serbia, North Macedonia
and France
– witnessed women’s representation exceed 30 per cent in at least one chamber. Three
countries
–
Azerbaijan, Czech Republic and Romania
–
failed to reach the 20 per cent mark.
Within the Middle East and North Africa region, Egypt reached historic highs for women in parliament
thanks to a new quota law for the House of Representatives. However, taken as a whole, the
proportion of women in parliament in the region is the lowest among all regions at 17.8 per cent, all
chambers combined.
Gains in
Asia were driven by women’s representation in the upper houses of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan
and Uzbekistan. Of parliamentary renewals in 2020, only Nepal exceeded 30 per cent women,
sustaining a strong track record on women in parliament over the past decade.
With the exception of New Zealand, women’s representation in parliaments in the Pacific remained
consistently low or entirely absent in elections held in 2020.
New Zealand’s new parliament made
history with more women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ and Maori MPs than at any time in the past.
***
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The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded more than 130 years ago as
the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between
all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 179 national Member Parliaments and 13 regional parliamentary
bodies. It promotes democracy and helps parliaments become stronger, younger, gender-balanced
and more diverse. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee
made up of MPs from around the world. Twice a year, the IPU convenes over 1,500 parliamentary
delegates and partners in a world assembly, bringing a parliamentary dimension to global governance,
including the work of the United Nations and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
For more information about the IPU, contact Thomas Fitzsimons at email:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
or tel: +41(0) 79 854 31 53