International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics

Fair representation is essential for a healthy democracy.

New policy papers presented by UNDP, the Partnership for Development Center, and development partners highlight both the progress achieved through gender quotas in Moldova and the challenges that remain for women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities in political participation.

The recommendations call for stronger electoral mechanisms, improved accessibility of polling stations, better data collection, and measures to encourage the candidacy and representation of underrepresented groups ahead of the 2027–2029 electoral cycle.

Building a truly inclusive democracy means ensuring that everyone has not only the right to participate, but also a genuine opportunity to be represented.

Fair representation in decision-making: policy papers to strengthen the involvement of women and persons with disabilities After three consecutive electoral cycles in which the double-quota system (the mechanism guaranteeing a minimum of 40% gender representation on candidate lists) brought a record number of women into Parliament and local councils, the political representation of other vulnerable groups r

Sharing updates from the global parliamentary community, including the International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics, commenting on 's political landscape:

"According to a coalition of women-led organisations, women could hold as little as 2.7% of Senate seats after the 2027 elections, following the outcomes of the 2026 party primaries.

Only 3 women secured Senate tickets, and just 2 of 15 presidential candidates are women.

The issue is not a lack of qualified women - it is the persistence of structural barriers within political institutions. From exclusionary party processes to limited access to nominations and leadership opportunities, women continue to face significant obstacles to political participation.

The coalition’s recommendations are both practical and urgent:
• Support the passage of the Special Seats Bill.
• Increase women’s representation through party nominations.
• Require female deputy governorship candidates alongside male gubernatorial candidates.
• Improve transparency through gender-disaggregated electoral data.
• End exclusionary practices that disadvantage women during candidate selection."

https://iknowpolitics.org/en/news/2027-women-may-occupy-only-27-senate-seats-coalition-warns?fbclid=IwY2xjawSXnzNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeMI6BM17QhgBEKVjUp75p4_7II-PKlW9ftkR2hPeW7z5YoSCKs_FSk2QTIWg_aem_HmGJ33poFyfIe8xyy_TgsA

Women-led climate movements in Uganda are increasingly advancing an ecofeminist perspective, arguing that environmental degradation and gender inequality are interconnected challenges.

Organizations such as Rights 4 Her and Girls for Climate Action emphasize that women are often among the most affected by climate-related disasters, yet remain underrepresented in climate decision-making. Their advocacy calls for greater inclusion of women’s voices, increased climate finance for vulnerable communities, and recognition of local and Indigenous knowledge in shaping climate solutions.

The discussion also unfolds within broader debates about representation, postcolonial feminism, environmental governance, and the tensions between Uganda’s climate commitments and large-scale fossil fuel development projects.

Ugandan activists make the case for ecofeminism Amid 1970s environmental threats of nuclear proliferation and pollution, the origin of the term “ecofeminism” is attributed to

Gender diversity is increasingly at the center of political, cultural, and social debates around the world. While many communities face growing challenges, from attacks on gender-affirming healthcare and reproductive rights to discrimination, censorship, and exclusion, this is not only a story of backlash. It is also a story of resilience.

Across countries and cultures, women, LGBTQ+ people, gender-diverse individuals, activists, educators, artists, and community leaders continue to build networks of support, create safe spaces, preserve histories, and advocate for dignity and belonging.

What stands out is that meaningful progress is often sustained not only through policy, but through community: through storytelling, mutual aid, education, solidarity, and collective action. At a time when gender is increasingly being used as a political wedge issue, amplifying the voices and lived experiences of those most affected is essential, not just for inclusion, but for healthy democratic societies.

Gender diversity under pressure: Resistance, community, and the politics of belonging Gender has become one of the defining political battlegrounds of our time.

La violencia es un fenómeno complejo que va más allá de la agresión física o verbal. Desde la perspectiva de Johan Galtung, puede manifestarse de forma directa, estructural o cultural, mientras que Hannah Arendt nos recuerda que suele emerger cuando el poder percibe una amenaza a su hegemonía.

En un contexto marcado por la transición hacia la interacción digital, resulta fundamental analizar cómo estas formas de violencia se transforman y se reproducen en nuevos espacios. Un caso especialmente relevante es el de las mujeres que ejercen liderazgo social y político, quienes continúan enfrentando expresiones de violencia que buscan limitar su participación e influencia.

Comprender estas dinámicas es un paso esencial para construir sociedades más inclusivas, democráticas e igualitarias.

Violencia política digital hacia las mujeres líderes Desde la sociología y las ciencias sociales, hasta la filosofía y la salud pública la violencia se define como un fenómeno complejo y multidimensional.

As Morocco prepares for its September 2026 parliamentary elections, women’s rights organizations are questioning the limited number of women selected to head electoral lists.

The groups argue that despite constitutional commitments to equality and existing legal mechanisms aimed at increasing women’s political participation, male candidates continue to dominate leadership positions on party lists.

They are calling for stronger implementation of electoral laws, greater representation of women in candidate selection, and a target of women leading at least one-third of electoral lists.

The debate highlights a broader question facing Morocco’s political landscape: how to translate commitments to gender parity into meaningful representation and leadership opportunities for women.

Moroccan Women’s Rights Groups criticize low number of female candidates leading 2026 election lists Moroccan women’s rights organizations have criticized political parties over the limited number of women selected to head electoral lists for the September 2026 parliamentary elections, arguing that the nominations fall short of the country’s constitutional commitm

A troubling trend is emerging in Nigeria’s political landscape:

According to a coalition of women-led organisations, women could hold as little as 2.7% of Senate seats after the 2027 elections, following the outcomes of the 2026 party primaries. Only 3 women secured Senate tickets, and just 2 of 15 presidential candidates are women.

The issue is not a lack of qualified women—it is the persistence of structural barriers within political institutions. From exclusionary party processes to limited access to nominations and leadership opportunities, women continue to face significant obstacles to political participation.
The coalition’s recommendations are both practical and urgent:
• Support the passage of the Special Seats Bill.
• Increase women’s representation through party nominations.
• Require female deputy governorship candidates alongside male gubernatorial candidates.
• Improve transparency through gender-disaggregated electoral data.
• End exclusionary practices that disadvantage women during candidate selection.

2027: Women may occupy only 2.7% of Senate seats, coalition warns A coalition of women-led groups and civil society organisations has warned that women’s representation in Nigeria’s Senate could decline to as low as 2.7 per cent after the 2027 general elections if urgent action isn’t taken to reverse the decline in women’s political representation followin...

Bangladesh’s democratic journey highlights an important contradiction: despite decades of women serving in top leadership roles and strong female participation in the workforce, women remain significantly underrepresented in formal political decision-making.

The 2026 General Election saw only 7 women directly elected to Parliament and just 3 women appointed to the cabinet, the lowest level of female representation in decades. Meanwhile, women continue to be concentrated in reserved parliamentary seats rather than competitive electoral positions.

The challenge is not visibility, but influence. Structural barriers within political parties, socio-economic constraints, and entrenched gender norms continue to limit women’s access to power, particularly for working-class women, including those in the garment sector who drive Bangladesh’s economy.

Achieving meaningful political representation requires more than quotas. It demands inclusive party structures, transparent candidate selection, and greater investment in grassroots women leaders.

Power Without Representation: Women’s Political Voice in Bangladesh Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory reveals a persistent paradox.