Data Story: The Road to Parity - Tracking Women’s Political Representation
Despite progress made in recent years towards more gender balance in political representation, this goal has not been reached yet. Multidimensional indices and scoreboards can be useful to keep track of progress and setbacks, and identify areas for improvement. This data story provides insights on women's political representation using relevant indices and scoreboards both at global and EU level. The analysis shows that progress has been slow and no country is likely to achieve gender equality targets by 2030, the target year for the achievement of SDGs. However, the SDG Index illustrates how trends at the country level can move substantially towards or away from gender parity over a short period of time. Positive stories stem from a number of countries where gender parity has been advanced with political commitment, targets and different quota systems. The analysis of the situation in the EU using the Gender Equality Strategy Monitoring Portal shows moderate progress in achieving gender balance in national parliaments, and a slower trend in local/municipal councils. Significant country differences persist when it comes to women's representation in politics across the EU. The story ends by highlighting the association between women's political representation and quality of government, and how more equal representation contribute to more diverse perspectives in policymaking and a stronger democracy that better reflects the society.
NURMINEN Minna;
CASABIANCA Elizabeth;
MOTIVANS Albert;
2025-01-24
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC139862
978-92-68-23700-7 (online),
OP KJ-01-25-005-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC139862,
10.2760/4262098 (online),
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