A groundbreaking handbook titled Beyond Numbers: Stories of Gender Equality in and through Parliaments was released on 10 October 2024, focusing on the vital role of gender representation in legislative bodies worldwide. Developed by INTER PARES within the EU’s Women and Youth in Democracy (WYDE) initiative, this publication delves into the transformative impact women have had in parliamentary processes globally. It features real-life accounts of how parliaments have embraced gender-sensitive reforms and empowered female legislators to drive change.
The handbook highlights the progress made in gender representation, noting a significant rise in the presence of women in parliaments—from 12 percent in 1995 to nearly 27 percent today. Despite this progress, only a small number of parliaments have reached or surpassed the 30 percent target set by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). These statistics underline that, while strides have been made, the journey toward equal representation is far from complete, with diverse regions exhibiting different levels of progress.
"While we have seen tremendous growth in women's parliamentary representation, it's clear that numbers alone do not guarantee equal influence or participation," said Jonathan Murphy, Head of Programme for INTER PARES. "This handbook shows the deeper institutional and cultural changes needed for women to have a real voice in the legislative process, and how parliaments around the world are stepping up to this challenge."
Hannah Johnson, Senior Gender Adviser at INTER PARES, emphasized the need to go beyond formal commitments. "It’s not just about implementing policies like gender audits or quotas. Real change happens when informal networks, critical actors, and champions within parliaments work together to transform both culture and practice," she said. "We’re seeing this in countries like Belgium and Montenegro, where parliamentary reforms have sparked broader societal shifts in gender equality."
Ultimately, Beyond Numbers serves as a vital resource for parliaments aiming to promote gender equality. It provides a roadmap of strategies, best practices, and inspirational stories from around the globe. The release of this handbook comes at a pivotal moment as democratic institutions seek to become more inclusive and resilient, recognizing that without gender equality, true democracy remains incomplete.