From the local to the global level, women’s leadership and political participation are restricted. Women are under-represented as voters, as well as in leading positions – whether in elected office, the civil service, the private sector or academia. This occurs despite their proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance.

Women face several obstacles to participating in political life. Structural barriers through discriminatory laws and institutions still limit women’s options to run for office, and capacity gaps mean women are less likely than men to have the education, contacts and resources needed to become effective leaders.

Individual women have overcome these obstacles with great acclaim, but for women as a whole, the playing field needs to be level, opening opportunities for all.

Women are still under-represented in government, business, civil society, and key positions of influence. UN Women works to change this by:

• Providing training for women political candidates to help build their capacities;
• Running voter and civic education and sensitisation campaigns on gender equality;
• Calling on political parties, governments and others to do their part in empowering women;
• Encouraging young men and women to engage in advocacy around making gender equality central to public policy-making; and
• Promoting women’s rights, including their right to vote and to violence-free campaigning.