SDG 5: Gender Equality | SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of Women and Child Development | Ministry of Law & Justice | Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
The UK government has partnered with UN Women and UNSCOL to launch a comprehensive study assessing women’s roles within eight Lebanese political parties. This study examines women’s participation as members, candidates, and leaders, identifying key challenges and opportunities for advancing gender equality within party structures. The initiative aims to inform policy reforms and enhance women’s representation in Lebanon’s political landscape.
For India, where women hold only 78 out of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha (14%) despite the recent passage of the Women’s Reservation Act, the study offers an opportunity to benchmark progress, identify gaps in political participation at state and local levels, and align domestic reforms with global commitments under SDG 5 and SDG 16.
Women’s political participation refers not just to voting rights, but also to the ability to contest elections, hold leadership roles within parties, and influence policy agendas.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can India integrate global insights from the study to accelerate the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act and ensure substantive not just numerical participation of women in politics?
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UK supports launch of study on women’s political participation