LESSONS FROM SWEDEN ON GENDER EQUALITY
TWO HALVES MAKE A WHOLE: LESSONS FROM SWEDEN ON GENDER EQUALITY According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), only 25% of all national Parliamentarians are women, which is up from 11% in 1995. Only four countries have 50% or more women in Parliament in single or lower houses with Rwanda being at 61%, Cuba with 53%, Bolivia with 53%, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 50%. According to the United Nations, ten countries have a woman Head of State, and 13 countries have a woman Head of Government while only 21% of government Ministers are women, with only 14 countries having achieved 50% or more women in Cabinets. With the current status in mind, according to UN Women calculations, with an annual increase of just 0.52 percentage points, gender parity in Ministerial positions will not be achieved before 2077. The equal participation of women in political and public life is critical to the global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Research shows that countries with fewer women in political spaces are more likely to face violence, hunger and authoritarianism. Conversely, countries which promote human rights and gender equality are more peaceful, stable and enjoy high levels of economic growth. Thus, the empowerment of women will contribute to greater global prosperity. When women have a seat at the table, the results of most of the actions by the governments are more inclusive and equitable. As of 1 September 2021, there were 26 women serving as Heads of State and/or Government in 24 countries. According to calculations
“The equal participation of women in political and public life is critical to the global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Research shows that countries with fewer women in political spaces are more likely to face violence, hunger and authoritarianism.” Mr Aaron Mwewa
by UN Women, at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. Is it possible for Parliaments around the Commonwealth to accelerate the balancing of political participation and powersharing between women and men in decision-making in order to meet the internationally agreed target set in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action? Unfortunately, many countries have not achieved gender balance, and few have set or met ambitious targets for gender parity (50– 50). Perhaps countries from within the Commonwealth, especially developing ones can learn lessons from countries outside of the Commonwealth such as Sweden on how to enhance the political participation of women, which will contribute to strengthening their democracies. Many people associate Sweden with gender equality, democracy and socially progressive ideologies. However, it is important to note that the situation in that country has not always been like that. The Leader of the Social Democratic Party, Magdalena Andersson, who is the country’s Prime Minister, is the first woman to hold that position in the history of the country. She boasts of having been in the country’s legislative space for over 20 years and once even served as Minister of Finance. “Sweden is where it is today because of a diverse group of strong and committed actors who pushed in the same direction. Women’s movements, human rights organisations and political parties where all in the frontline demanding for gender equality,” the Prime Minister states. Today, Sweden has an equal representation of men and women in elected positions at both at national and regional levels. This situation would not have been possible without political will and decisive action. It is certainly difficult to go back from equal representation once it is achieved because of its clear benefits. In 1994, the Swedish Prime Minister, Ingvar Carisson, decided that his new government would be made up of an equal number of men and women. This led to the formation of the world’s first gender neutral government, whereby 11 out of the 22 Members were women. Ever since, all the governments in Sweden have been gender neutral including the present one, which is led by a female Prime Minister. In order for Sweden to get to where it is today, three landmark reforms had to be implemented. The reforms included access to
is the Deputy Chief Hansard Editor at the National Assembly of Zambia and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for The Parliamentarian representing the CPA Africa Region.
52 | The Parliamentarian | 2022: Issue One | 100 years of publishing
