Impact
The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.
A Guinea-Bissau woman shows her inked finger after voting. © Reuters / Joe Penney
Gender equality
We work to increase women’s representation in parliament and empower women MPs.
Many women around the world still lack basic human rights and face discrimination and gender-based violence. The world’s parliaments are no exception. Most parliaments remain male-dominated, and women MPs are often under-represented on decision-making bodies.
The IPU has been tracking and empowering women parliamentarians for decades, convinced of the link between strong democracies and gender equality.
Our work focuses on three main objectives: increasing the number of women in parliament through well-designed quotas and parliamentary caucuses; supporting women in parliament; and transforming parliaments into gender-sensitive institutions that deliver on women’s rights.
To achieve these objectives, the IPU has a wealth of data and tools:
We are the authority on the percentage of women in national parliaments through our monthly rankingof women in parliament, including comparative analyses between countries and annual studies that look at historical trends over decades.
Every year in March we publish an analysis of women in parliament looking at progress and setbacks following the previous year's parliamentary elections.
We have published landmark reports on sexism and gender-based violence in parliament, looking at both female MPs and female parliamentary staff. (See the 2016 report on global data, the 2018 report on European parliaments, the 2021 report on African parliaments and the 2024 report on Asian-Pacific Parliaments). We have also published Guidelines for the elimination of sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliament.
Our self-assessment toolkit for gender-sensitive parliaments is an essential reference that has been used by dozens of parliaments around the world.
We also have databases on women’s parliamentary caucuses and specialized parliamentary committees on gender equality.
The IPU partners with International IDEA and Stockholm University in running a global database on gender electoral quotas, which provides country-specific data on existing mechanisms to ensure women’s participation in parliaments.
Practising what we preach, we have adopted groundbreaking practices ourselves to ensure gender equality in our assemblies, committees and staff.
27.5%
Gender-equal parliaments
Global percentage of women MPs
Parliamentary bodies on gender equality
Explore gender equality
Women in parliament
While more women than ever are being elected to parliaments around the world, equality is still a long way off, and current progress is far too slow.
Gender-sensitive parliaments
Gender-sensitive parliaments are institutions that are founded on gender equality, where women and men have an equal right to participate without discrimination or recrimination.
Latest news and stories on gender equality
News in brief
16/03/2026
In a year of slow progress, these countries are driving women’s representation forward
Press releases
11/03/2026
Only 1 in 7 countries is led by a woman as global political power remains dominated by men
Latest publications on gender equality
Related events
Conference
IPU Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians
Jun022026
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Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
Virtual event
EMPOWERMENT SERIES FOR YOUNG PARLIAMENTARIANS – Strengthening women’s and youth political participation through mentorship
Mar312026
This briefing is part of the IPU Empowerment Series and the WYDE | Women’s Leadership Initiative.
Side event
Intergenerational engagement for advancing young women’s leadership
Mar132026
New York, United States
This side event will bring international organizations, policymakers, and young women leaders together to share experiences, highlight best practices, and present tools supporting women’s leadership and political participation.