Newsman: Despite increases in the number of women at the highest levels of political power, widespread gender inequalities persist, according to the 2021 edition of theIPU-UN Women Map of Women in Politics. However, Women occupy the role of Heads of State or Government in 22 countries, up from 20 countries this time last year. As of 1 January 2021, 5.9 percent of elected Heads of State (9 out of 152) and 6.7 percent of Heads of Government (13 out of 193) are women. Europe is the region with the most countries led by women, with five out of the world’s nine women Heads of State and seven out of the world’s 13 women Heads of Government. The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway are all currently led by women. Political will plays a role in advancing gender equality, particularly when it comes to appointing ministers. As a result, some countries saw dramatic increases in their share of women ministers in 2021.
The new data has been released ahead of the Commission of the Status of Women, the largest UN gathering on gender equality, which this year has as its priority theme “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. It also comes in the run-up to the Generation Equality Forum, which will deliver multi-stakeholder, game-changing Action Coalitions on six topics including Leadership and Feminist Movements.
The IPU-UN Women Map presents new data for women in government and parliamentary positions as of1 January 2021 shows all-time highs for the number of countries with women Heads of State and/or Heads of Government, as well as for the global share of women Ministers. According to the data, after last year’s map showed a spike at 21.3 per cent of women ministers, progression has slowed – with just a small increase to 21.9 percent as of 1 January2021. The data also reveals that the number of countries with no women in government has increased, bucking adown ward trend seen the last few years.
There were also sluggish gains in the global growth of women parliamentarians in 2020, as shown in the IPU’s annual report onWomen in Parliament, launched in the beginning of March’2021. As of 1 January 2021, the global share of women in national parliaments is 25.5 per cent, a slight increase from 24.9 per cent the year before. The number of countries in which women hold 50 per cent or more of ministerial positions dropped from 14 this time last year to 13 in 2021.
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said “No country prospers without the engagement of women. We need women’s representation that reflects all women and girls in all their diversity and abilities, and across all cultural, social, economic and political situations. This year’s map shows us that we still need bold decisive action across the world to bring women into the heart of decision-making spaces in large numbers and as full partners. There’s no doubt this can and should be done. It should be done now.”
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong said “This year’s growth in the number of women in political decision-making is just not good enough. Especially when you consider that 70 per cent of health, care and service workers during this pandemic are women. It’s up to all of us, both men and women, to keep pushing for greater representation of women in politics. We have the toolsto make it happen. What we need now is the political will.”
More women ministers across all regions
Europe experienced the two biggest jumps in women’s political representation at the executive level in 2021.The share of women in government wentfrom 8 percent to 43 percent in Lithuania,and more than doubled in Belgium,from 25 percent to 57 percent.
Namibia made the biggest leapforward in Sub-Saharan Africa, increasing its overall share of women ministers from 15 percent to 39 percent. Rwanda still leads the region, maintaining the largest share of women ministers at 54.8 percent as well as topping the global charts again in the share of women parliamentarians.
In the Americas, the newly-appointed government in the United Statesis shaping up to be the most gender-balanced in the country’s history: women in charge of ministerial portfolios rose from 17 percent this time last year to 46 percent as of 1 January2021. The United States also made history in 2020 with the election for the first time of a woman as Vice President. The clear leader, however, both globally and in the region, is Nicaragua, with 58.82 percent of ministries led by women.
In Asia, Mongolia progressed from 6.7 percent women-led ministerial portfolios on 1 January2020 to 18.8 percent today, the biggest percentage point increase in the region.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, Lebanon currently has the largest share of women ministers, at 31.6 percent. Tunisia saw the greatest increase, leaping to 29.2 percent – up from 6.9 percent this time last year.
In the Pacific region, Kiribati gained one woman minister and its parliament elected a woman Speaker for the first time. New Zealand maintains the largest share of women ministers at 40 percent, increasing by 10 percent compared to the previous year.
Number of countries with no women ministers rises
Despite overall gains across all regions, the number of countries with no women ministers as of 1 January 2021 increased to12, compared to nine this time last year.
As of 1 January 2021, no women serve in the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brunei Darussalam, D.P.R. Korea, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Yemen.
Environment is the top portfolio held by women
The environment or energy portfolio jumped from third place this time last year to the top spot as of 1 January 2021 of ministerial portfolios held by women.
Women ministers nonetheless continue to dominate portfolios covering social affairs, women’s affairs and gender equality.
However, women’s share in traditionally male-led ministerial portfolios has slightly increased in 2021; for example,11.9 per cent of defence portfolios compared to 10.1 per cent this time last yearand13.6 of finance portfolios compared to 11.5 per centre now led by women.
The share of women ministers in charge of foreign affairs portfolios also saw a significant increase compared with this time last year, rising from 16.8 per cent to 26 per cent in 2021.
Countries with women holding50 per cent or more ministerial positions
- Nicaragua58.82%
- Austria 57.14%
- Sweden 57.14%
- Belgium 57.14%
- Albania 56.25%
- Rwanda 54.84%
- Costa Rica52.00%
- Canada51.43%
- Andorra, Finland, France, Guinea-Bissau, Spain 50.00%
