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Strengthen Women's Political Participation and Decision-Making Power

Paving the way and advocating for more women leaders in the political, business, and civic arena is an investment in more just, equitable, and peaceful societies.

Overview   Evidence   Ripple Effect   Policy Asks    Solutions in Action  

Girls and women have a right to engage in civil society, vote in elections, be elected to government office, serve on boards, and make their voices heard in any process that will ultimately affect them, their families, and their communities. By investing in gender-responsive political participation, the international community not only moves closer to realizing girls’ and women’s basic human rights, but also to fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

24.5%
Roughly 24.5% of parliamentarians globally were women in 2019.
42
In 2019, only 42 countries in the world had 30% or more women ministers.
<13%
From 1992-2018, women accounted for fewer than 13% of people at peace negotiation tables.
10.1%
Companies with strong female leadership on their boards have shown a return on equity that is 10.1% annually vs. 7.4% from companies without.

Investing in girls and women creates a ripple effect that yields multiple benefits, not only for individual women, but also for families, communities, and countries. Studies show that increasing women’s participation in politics leads to greater investments in education and health, and that companies with female board representation boast higher returns on investment than national averages.

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Invest in Girls and Women to Tackle Climate Change and Conserve the Environment
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Invest in Girls and Women to Tackle Climate Change and Conserve the Environment
Gender equality is critical to improving the environment and fighting...
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Accelerate Access to Resources – Land, Clean Energy, Water, and Sanitation
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Accelerate Access to Resources – Land, Clean Energy, Water, and Sanitation
Improve girls’ and women’s access to resources ― land, clean...
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Build Sustainable Financing and Partnerships for Girls and Women
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Build Sustainable Financing and Partnerships for Girls and Women
The transformative power of girls and women is undeniable. It...
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Ensure Health For All
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Ensure Health For All
Healthy girls and women are the cornerstone of healthy societies.
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  • Eliminate structural and legal obstacles that hinder all girls’ and women’s participation in politics and decision-making, and hold those obstructing them accountable.
  • Offer training programs for young people, women, and men on political systems, girls’ and women’s right to participation and roles in decision-making, as well as unconscious bias and inclusion training.
  • Introduce temporary quota systems and inclusive, gender-sensitive leadership pathways to help bring all girls and women into political spheres.
  • Secure equal visibility of female politicians and decision-makers and promote a more inclusive representation of leadership.
  • Promote a safe and enabling political environment in which all girls and women may participate in public life at all levels without fear of physical or digital violence and harassment.
  • Promote women in leadership and decision-making roles at all levels, including at peace negotiation tables and in humanitarian emergencies.
  • Promote community and sport programs that foster leadership skills for girls and women and promote gender equality.
  • Support women’s leadership in the workplace through greater inclusion in executive positions and on corporate boards.
  • Fund grassroots organizations that build the capacity of girls and women to participate both individually and collectively in social, economic, political, and public life.
  • Implement policies and accountability mechanisms that track and report on government performance with respect to gender-equality commitments.
  • Incorporate men in training focused on supporting and promoting girls and women as leaders and decision-makers.
Explore the Policy Brief
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