According to a new report from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), global representation of women in parliament reached 27.5% at the start of 2026, marking the slowest growth in nearly a decade. While countries with legislative quotas saw significantly higher appointment rates, the report highlighted a total absence of women MPs in nations like Oman, Tuvalu, and Yemen. Regional progress varied greatly, with the Americas maintaining the highest representation at 35.6%, while the Middle East and North Africa remained the lowest at 16.2%. The IPU also warned that a surge in public intimidation and political violence affecting 76% of women legislators surveyed threatens to further discourage women from seeking office.
Date: March 9, 2026. Source: europeansting.com