This new study done by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) came out today shows improvement in women’s representation in political arena. The report that compared data collected from 193 countries establishes that women occupy on average 26. Less than 1 percent of the total seats in world Parliaments, which has been gradually rising over the past decade.

It brought to the notice of the reader that there are few countries which have demonstrated outstanding progress in terms of legislative gender balance. As for 2009, Rwanda stands again a head of all the countries in the world with 61. 3% of its lower house seats represented by women, Cuba 53. 4% and Nicaragua 50. 6%. Altogether, 23 countries have achieved or exceed the 40/60% which is considered as the critical mass in the management and decision-making bodies.

Scholars credit that progress to numerous factors such as the adoption of the gender quotas, change of social attitudes, and rising support for women candidates. The research concluded that countries that adopted gender quotas in legislations, currently enjoy over 7 percent more females in their parliaments than the countries that are yet to adopt the measures.

However, the report also shows the contemporary and emerging concerns and gaps as well as disparities. Parliaments show that people’s representation in leadership positions has some inequality; only 20 percent are women. 16% of moderator positions area held by women in different countries and cities stated in the table 1. Representing only 3 per cent of the committee chairs. Further, regional segregation continues with the Middle East & North Africa having the least average women at 17%. 8%.

This paper also explores influence of the newly empowered, especially with emphasis on women’s political participation on policy decisions. Comparing the represented women’s percentage in the parliament to the number of the adopted legislative measures pertaining to the peculiarities of the female position, one can state that the higher that the first indicator, the higher the second one regards the legislation adoption concerning the mentioned problems, including the gender-based violence, the maternity and parental leave rights, or the equal remuneration for equal work.

IPU Secretary-General, H. E. Martin Chungong reaffirmed the need to push untiringly for women’s political leadership. “At the same time we are glad that the progress has been made and we should not forget the efforts need to be continued,” he said. ”It is not just about righting the unfair balance where women are heavily underrepresented, but more about ensuring that our democracies are better because they are more representative. ”

This paper ends with the policy suggestions on how women’s political representation can be boosted in the future, sourcing improvements in implementing the gender quota enshrined in the laws, combating violence against women in politics and Women Leadership within the political parties.

That there is a gradual rise of women into the political decision-making institutions Increases confidence for the governance of diverse and complicated social, economic and environmental challenges that the countries of the world face as they go into the future.