Policy Documents

Why are gender quotas needed?

Full and effective participation of women in political processes is one of the main conditions for the sustainable development of a state, reinforcing equality, peace and democratic institutions. Even though over the past decades fight for women’s rights was systematic, in many countries underrepresentation
of women in politics and lack of their participation in the supreme legislative bodies of the state, both at the central and local level, remains a challenge. According to the millennium development goals, women’s political participation is an important factor for strengthening gender equality and empowering women. Despite individual international acts and strategic initiatives to increase women’s political participation, women make up as low as 24% of legislative members globally.