Human Development View Point: Nothing Less Than Parity, Gender-Balance in Political Representation

Document Summary

A key measure of democracy is the status of women as equal citizens with equal access to rights and power. Yet, gender balance, particularly in political representation, has progressed slowly in many developing countries, where institutions are still largely dominated by men. This unequal sharing of power has led to unequal sharing of resources. Political institutions and democratic governance are compromised without gender equity. Parity in political representation is an indivisible human right to be promoted and protected.