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Activities and instruments
Promoting women's political participation
In many countries women's political representation is still not commensurate with their actual social and economic role: Over the past 10 years the proportion of women in national parliaments has increased, yet on average they account for only 18.4 per cent of all parliamentarians. In sub-Saharan Africa the share of women members of parliament is around 16 per cent, in South Asia 15 per cent, in the Middle East and North Africa only 8 per cent (as at June 2008). If developments continue at that same rate, which is to be expected, then it will take around 40 years to achieve a women’s quota of between 40 and 60 per cent in developing countries.
Germany has agreed to promote democracy, civil society and public administration as a priority area in its cooperation with 32 partner countries. In this area of activity Germany is also working towards political equality between women and men.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), which is headquartered in Stockholm, helps to boost women's parliamentary representation. Germany has been a member of the IDEA since 2002.
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