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A smiling group of four women and one man sat in a conference hall.
Championing gender equality in leadership — progress toward balanced representation in parliaments.
Photo:? IPU/Davronbek Ernazarov

Achieving gender equality, action by action

Women remain underrepresented in national and local legislatures worldwide, limiting their political rights and influence over laws and budgets. UN Women advocates for more women leaders, supportive laws, and skills-building through policy dialogues and cross-party collaboration. Partnerships with groups like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) are key to these efforts. The IPU’s Forum of Women Parliamentarians, , empowers women MPs to address gender imbalances and includes men as allies, embodying the approach for the . The Forum helped introduce rules requiring women’s inclusion in parliamentary delegations. 

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), established in 1889, holds the distinction of being the first political multilateral organization aimed at fostering international cooperation and resolving conflicts through dialogue rather than warfare. Throughout its history, the IPU has been a pivotal platform for parliamentary diplomacy, enabling nations to engage in meaningful conversations and mediation. The organization's impact is underscored by the fact that its founders and numerous other prominent members have been awarded the , highlighting their contributions to global peace efforts.

In countries emerging from conflict or transitioning to democracy, the IPU plays a critical role in building strong, democratic parliamentary institutions capable of uniting divided societies. The organization’s commitment to peace is further demonstrated through its vigorous advocacy for disarmament. The IPU actively lobbies for a world free of nuclear weapons and supports the thorough implementation of , which aims to prevent non-State actors from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

Recognizing that war disproportionately impacts women and youth, the IPU places a special emphasis on peace and security for these groups. This focus is guided by UN Security Council resolutions 1325 and 2250, which address the roles and protections of women and youth in conflict situations.

40 years of action, 40 women of action

As the IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025, it honors the contributions of 40 influential women who have advanced gender equality and women's representation in politics. These trailblazing leaders have played pivotal roles in shaping the Forum's agenda, fostering global collaboration, and driving legislative reforms to empower women worldwide.

Background

The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on 30 June, the date in 1889 on which the IPU was founded. The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.

Instituting an international day for parliaments is particularly important at this critical time for parliamentary democracy, when people are losing trust in political institutions and democracy itself is facing challenges from populist and nationalist movements. If democracy is to thrive, then parliaments, as the cornerstone of functioning democracies, need to be strong, transparent, accountable and representative.

The International Day of Parliamentarism is a time to review the progress that parliaments have made in achieving some key goals to be more representative and move with the times, including carrying out self-assessments, working to include more women and young MPs, and adapting to new technologies.

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution , recognized the role of parliaments in national plans and strategies and in ensuring greater transparency and accountability at national and global levels.

 

 

10 Key actions for gender equality

10 key actions

 

Did you know?

 

Resources

Many women worldwide still face discrimination and under-representation in parliaments, which remain largely male-dominated. The IPU works to increase women’s participation, support women parliamentarians, and make parliaments more gender-sensitive through data, tools, and advocacy. By tracking progress and promoting gender equality, the IPU helps strengthen democracies globally. 

Parliamentarians from around the world share their personal journeys. They highlight the challenges and successes they have experienced in their roles. Together, they showcase how their parliaments are working to advance gender equality.

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.