In parliaments across the globe, from the marble halls of Europe to the grassroots chambers of Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, something quietly powerful is unfolding. A woman stands. Her voice breaks through centuries of exclusion. She is not a token, not a novelty, but a necessary force. She speaks not just for herself, but for the millions whose stories, struggles, and strength she carries into every vote, every policy, every action.
As we mark the International Day of Parliamentarism on June 30, the 2025 theme, “Achieving Gender Equality, Action by Action,” calls us to look beyond numbers and see the deeper truth: when women lead in parliaments, the world moves closer to justice, peace, and progress.
A Global Journey from the Margins to the Majority
The journey of women into legislative power has been anything but linear. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote. Today, over a century later, every country in the world (except one) has had women participate in at least one election. But participation does not always mean power.
Globally, as of 2024, women hold just 27.1% of parliamentary seats. That number is far from equal, but it is double what it was two decades ago, proving that change, though slow, is real.
There are bright spots: Rwanda still leads the world with over 61% of women in its lower house. Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, and the UAE have all surpassed the 50% threshold. Nordic countries continue to serve as models of gender parity through proportional representation systems and progressive party policies.
Still, in many countries from Japan to Jordan, Nigeria to Nepal, women remain vastly underrepresented in national decision-making. In some legislatures, women make up less than 10% of the body, despite being over 50% of the population.
Beyond the Seat: What Women Bring to Parliament
When women enter parliaments, the agenda changes. Research by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) shows that women are more likely to champion laws on childcare, health, education, social justice, and gender-based violence. In countries with more women in parliament, inequality tends to drop, and budgets better reflect community needs.
But this transformation isn’t automatic. Many women still face deep-seated patriarchy, political violence, online harassment, and a lack of access to campaign financing. Too often, they are placed in symbolic roles without substantive power.
And yet, women persist. They do not wait for permission; they claim space, raise their voices, and legislate change that matters.
Amazons Watch Magazine: Our Global Pledge to Her Power
At Amazons Watch Magazine, we don’t just observe women’s progress; we amplify, document, and defend it. For us, each milestone reached by a woman in public leadership is more than news, it’s a legacy unfolding. It’s a signal to the world that we are not waiting for permission, we are claiming space.
Here is what we demand of governments, political parties, and global institutions:
Adopt gender quotas that aren’t just aspirational, but enforceable and binding.
We call for the institutionalization of mandatory legislative gender quotas in national constitutions and party structures. Quotas must not be symbolic or optional; they must come with timelines, accountability mechanisms, and consequences for non-compliance. Equality delayed is justice denied. Every country should strive for a minimum of 50% women’s representation in all legislative bodies, not as a gift, but as a rightful share of power.
Fund women’s campaigns fully, and protect them from the double burden of financial exclusion and political violence.
Money should never be the reason why capable women are locked out of politics. Yet around the world, women still face significant financial barriers in running for office, especially in developing economies. We urge national and international donors to establish gender-responsive political financing mechanisms, provide equitable campaign resources, and dismantle the gatekeeping systems that prioritize male candidates. In addition, zero tolerance policies for gender-based political violence, both online and in physical spaces, must be adopted, monitored, and enforced. Safety is not a luxury; it is a right.
Invest in long-term leadership pipelines for girls and young women, from the classroom to the cabinet.
Empowering women in parliament begins long before the ballot box. We need intentional and consistent investment in education, mentorship, public speaking, civic training, and leadership development for young girls, especially those from marginalized communities. Let every girl know that her voice matters, her dreams are valid, and her presence in power is possible. We must fund programs that train, support, and elevate emerging female leaders, ensuring that the next generation doesn’t have to start from scratch, but from strength.
Presence without influence is performative. Women must be placed not just in high numbers but in high-impact roles: heading budget committees, national security councils, climate ministries, and foreign affairs departments. Gender equality means more than women talking about women’s issues it means women leading on every issue that affects humanity. From peace negotiations to trade agreements, green policies to tech regulations, let women lead the way, unapologetically and authoritatively.
At Amazons Watch Magazine, this is our pledge:
To stand with the women building new worlds inside old systems.
To raise our voices louder until equity is not an aspiration but a standard.
And to keep telling their stories, because stories shape culture, and culture shapes power.
Let us build a future where no woman needs to ask for a seat, because she’ll already be at the head of the table.
Her Voice, Her Vote, Her Victory
The theme for 2025, “Achieving Gender Equality, Action by Action,” reminds us that change doesn’t come in leaps. It comes in motions passed. Voices raised. Courage shared. Support offered. Action, by action.
Let us no longer debate whether women belong in parliament. Let us ensure they are not only there, but heard, respected, and leading.
Every girl who sees a woman at the podium knows that her dreams are not distant; they are possible. Her place in power is waiting. And her time is now!
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