[Test] What's New - Stop Violence Against Women

Domestic Violence

General Information Best Practices Law and Policy Ongoing Developments

Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking Overview Training and Advocacy Ongoing Developments Sex Trafficking and Safe Harbor Resource Pack

Sexual Harassment

General Information Training and Advocacy Law and Policy Ongoing Developments

Sexual Assault

General Information Advocacy and Training Law and Policy Ongoing Developments

Other Forms of Violence Against Women

Crimes Committed in the Name of "Honor" Dowry-Related Violence Female Environmental Refugees Female Genital Mutilation Femicide Forced and Early Marriage Forced/Coerced Sterilization Gender-Based Asylum Harmful Practices Indigenous Women Maltreatment of Widows Son Preference Violence Against LGBT Women Violence Against the Girl Child Violence Against Women and HIV/AIDS Women and Armed Conflict Violence Against Women with Disabilities

Russian Site

Our Work

What's New

Archives 2003 Archives 2004 Archives 2005 Archives 2006

Advocacy Tools

Women's HR Training Human Rights Reporting Community Education Advocating for New Laws on Violence Against Women and Girls Women Human Rights Defenders and Safety

International Law

United Nations Systems European System

Expert's Corner

Make A Donation

Anti-Gender Developments

Women Hold 17.5 Percent of All Parliament Seats ar

Friday, October 12, 2007

The world average of women in chamber seats is at its highest, up more than 50 percent from a decade ago.

Nordic countries continue to have the highest percentage, with women in 199 of the 970 combined seats. Rwanda is in the top position at 48.8 percent, with women in 39 of the 80 parliamentary seats. Costa Rica is in the fourth position at 38.6 percent; women there are in 22 of the 55 parliamentary seats. Of the 189 countries ranked, the Unites States is 67 on the list with 16.3 percent of the 535 congressional seats held by women, 87 women in all. Pacific countries (excluding Australia and New Zealand) are in the bottom position with just 3 percent representation by women; the Arab states hold the next lowest position with 8.9 percent representation by women.

A record number of women held top position in parliaments around the world. As of January 2007, women held Presiding Officer posts in 35 Parliaments around the world. However of the 73 Parliaments that are bi-cameral, women have a lower percentage of representation in the Upper Houses. They lag behind the total parliamentary total with just 15.9 percent as of the end of 2006.

For full report, tables, and statistics, go to: http://www.ipu.org/iss-e/women.htm

Compiled from: Women in National Parliaments, Inter-Parliamentary Union, 31 August 2007.

In This Section

The Advocates for Human Rights Site Map About the Site

330 Second Avenue South, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA Phone: (612) 341-3302 Fax: (612) 341-2971 Email: hrights@advrights.org

Although Stop Violence Against Women endeavors to provide useful and accurate information, Stop Violence Against Women does not warrant the accuracy of the materials provided. Accordingly, this Web Site and its information are provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular use or purpose, or non-infringement. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. We reserve the right to make improvements and/or changes in the format and/or content of the information contained on the Web Site without notice.This information is provided with the understanding that Stop Violence Against Women and its partners are not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Copyright © 2018 The Advocates for Human Rights. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use this material for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution to The Advocates for Human Rights.