Global representation of women in parliaments stagnates – UN report

Women now hold just 27.5% of parliamentary seats worldwide, marking a meager 0.3% increase compared to 2025, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has revealed.

The UN-backed report, Women in Parliament 2025, released ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, described growth as the slowest in almost a decade.

The report also highlighted a decline in women’s leadership roles in legislatures, with women filling only 12 of the 75 newly appointed presidents.

According to the IPU, electoral quotas play a “fundamental role” in improving women’s representation. In the 49 countries that held elections last year, chambers with quotas averaged 31% female parliamentarians, compared to 23% in parliaments without such mechanisms.

However, the report also warns that women parliamentarians are increasingly victims of intimidation and violence. Globally, 76% of female parliamentarians reported experiencing harassment, compared to 68% of their male colleagues.

The intimidation extends to both online and offline platforms and, the IPU noted, could discourage more women from seeking public office.

“Public and online harassment continues to pose significant barriers to women’s political participation, threatening progress in gender equality in politics,” the IPU said.

Some countries have moved to counter this trend. For example, the Colombian Parliament recently enacted legislation to prevent and punish violence against women in politics, providing a model to follow.

Founded in 1889, the IPU is the first multilateral political organization, bringing together 183 national parliaments and 15 regional bodies around the world. It aims to strengthen democracy, foster dialogue between nations and promote gender-balanced governance.

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