Women’s representation in government and other decision-making structures in most countries of the world has been an issue since their establishment. This is apparent and relevant for both legislative and executive bodies. By 2010, only 26 countries out of 186 UN members “reached or exceeded the 30 percent mark of women’s representation in the single or lower house of parliament” (Aragon & Miller, 2012, p. 119). Regarding the executive branch, in 2010, only 16 percent of ministerial posts were held by women globally, and 11 out of 192 heads of government were women (Aragon & Miller, 2012). The reason for such a disparity is rooted in historical differences between genders in their access to leadership positions. Women’s participation in decision-making is critical to ensure gender equality.
The Council of Women World Leaders is a congress of women who serve or served as heads of states and governments. The council gathers to work out strategies for the promotion of gender equality and is interested in increasing opportunities for all women around the globe.
National institutions for the advancement of women are government agencies primarily established after the United Nations First World Conference on Women in 1975 (Aragon & Miller, 2012). These agencies are concerned with issues of increasing women’s participation in the economy, politics, education, and other spheres. Agencies like that vary significantly regarding funding, structure, priorities, and influence, which undermines their independence and power.
Gender mainstreaming is an approach to further women’s empowerment and gender equality. It implies assessing every policy’s impact on genders separately and looking at every policy as a tool for promoting equality. This approach was popularized by the Beijing Platform for Action, and it is incorporated into the strategy of the White House Council for Women and Girls, created in 2009 (Aragon & Miller, 2012).
Reference
Aragon, J., & Miller, M. (2012). Global women’s issues: Women in the world today, extended version. BCcampus.