To ensure political leaders are representative of the societies they serve and improve outcomes for all, regional organisations came together for a side event at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York to discuss how they can help turn global commitments into practical national reforms.
Women are still less likely than men to be elected to parliament or to lead governments. Participants shared practical ways countries can help change this, including fairer election rules, more transparent processes for political parties to select candidates and stronger protections for women in politics who face harassment or threats.
The meeting was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Union, together with the African Union, the Organization of American States, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Presentations of practical tools and approaches that governments can draw on in their own reform process included ODIHR's Gender Parity Roadmap , launched in 2025, as well as initiatives developed by partner regional and parliamentary bodies.
