Beyond symbolism: The quest for women's political power

By Vikas Meshram 

Laws are made, policies are framed, and the direction of nations is decided within the chambers of parliament. Yet in those very halls, where the destiny of societies is shaped, the presence of half of humanity—women—remains strikingly inadequate. Democracy is celebrated and the language of equality is invoked with great passion, but a glance at the composition of the world's parliaments makes that language ring hollow. Women's representation is growing, it is true, but the pace of change is so sluggish that it is difficult to say when genuine equality will be achieved.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in its report Women in Parliament 2025, notes that as of 1 January 2026, women constituted 27.5 per cent of parliamentarians worldwide. At first glance, the figure appears encouraging. However, compared to 2025, it represents an increase of only 0.3 percentage points. For the past two years, growth has virtually stalled, making it the slowest rate of progress since 2017.

Numerical representation alone is not the only measure of empowerment. The position of women in key leadership roles has weakened further. At the beginning of 2026, only 19.9 per cent—54 of the world's parliamentary speakers—were women. A year earlier, the figure stood at 23.7 per cent. Thus, while the rhetoric of progress continues, women are steadily losing ground in positions of authority. The contradiction is difficult to ignore.

Of the 75 new parliamentary speakers elected or appointed across the world in 2025, only 12—just 16 per cent—were women. These numbers compel us to ask whether the world is truly changing.

Compared with many other regions, North and South America have performed relatively better in ensuring women's parliamentary representation. In the 13 countries that held elections in 2025, women accounted for 36.1 per cent of representatives elected across 20 parliamentary chambers. As of 1 January 2026, women constituted 35.6 per cent of parliamentarians across the Americas. In four countries—Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Mexico—women now equal or outnumber men in parliament. Rwanda, Andorra, and the United Arab Emirates have also crossed this threshold.

Among the elections held in 2025, Kyrgyzstan recorded the most significant advance, with women's representation increasing by 12.9 percentage points. Saint Vincent registered a rise of 12.3 percentage points, while the upper house of Saint Lucia saw an increase of 9.1 percentage points.

Australia made history in 2025. In its 150-member parliament, 69 women were elected, raising women's representation to 46 per cent—the highest level ever recorded in the country. The Czech Republic also presented an encouraging picture, with the number of women in its 200-member lower house rising from 50 to 67. Ecuador's National Assembly reached 45 per cent women's representation, the highest in the country's history. Japan, too, witnessed a landmark year. The country elected its first woman Prime Minister, and following the July elections, women's representation in the upper house rose to a record 29.4 per cent.

One of the report's most important findings is that where reservation or quota systems exist, women's representation is considerably higher. In parliaments with quotas, an average of 30.9 per cent of elected members were women, compared to only 23.3 per cent in countries without such measures. These figures make it abundantly clear that without institutional support, the dream of equality remains elusive.

The situation is most discouraging in the Middle East and North Africa, where women hold only 16.2 per cent of parliamentary seats on average. In the lower or sole chambers of Oman, Tuvalu, and Yemen, there is not a single woman parliamentarian. Can a democracy truly claim to be representative when half its population remains excluded from its legislative institutions?

The lack of representation is not the only challenge. The report highlights that women who enter politics frequently face violence, intimidation, humiliation, and threats. A study conducted in the Asia-Pacific region found that 76 per cent of women parliamentarians had experienced psychological abuse or mental violence. Overall, 76 per cent of women parliamentarians reported facing some form of violence, compared to 68 per cent of their male counterparts. Such threats exist both online and offline.

Experts believe that this hostile environment discourages many women from entering politics in the first place. Some countries, however, have taken meaningful steps to address the problem. The Election Commission of the Philippines acted against male candidates who made derogatory remarks about women candidates. Colombia's parliament enacted a dedicated law to prevent violence against women in politics and punish those responsible.

A discussion of global trends inevitably leads to India. According to the latest Human Development Index (HDI) released by the United Nations, India ranks 134th among 193 countries, with a score of 0.644, placing it in the medium human development category. Switzerland tops the list with a score of 0.967. Compared with the previous index, India has slipped two places.

There have undoubtedly been improvements. Since 1990, life expectancy at birth in India has increased by 9.1 years. Expected years of schooling have risen by 4.6 years, while mean years of schooling have increased by 3.8 years. Per capita national income has also grown from $6,590 to $6,951. Yet the Gender Inequality Index (GII) reveals how unevenly these gains have been distributed.

In the report The Paths to Equal by UNDP and UN Women, India scored 0.52 on the Women's Empowerment Index (WEI) and 0.56 on the Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI). In both measures, India remains among the lagging nations, alongside countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

The figures reveal a stark reality. In 2023, women's representation in Parliament stood at only 14.72 per cent, while in local self-governing institutions it reached 44.4 per cent. Women are increasingly visible and influential at the grassroots level, yet their voice remains muted in national decision-making. The presence of a woman in the office of the President is undoubtedly significant, but one high office alone cannot ensure equality.

Educational and economic indicators present a similarly troubling picture. In 2022, only 24.9 per cent of women had attained secondary or higher education, compared to 38.6 per cent of men. Between 2012 and 2022, only 15.9 per cent of managerial positions were occupied by women. Labour-force participation among married women with young children stood at a mere 27.1 per cent. Moreover, between 2012 and 2022, 43.53 per cent of young women were outside education, employment, or training—a deeply distressing statistic.

Globally, 15 per cent of women willing to work are unable to find opportunities, compared with 10.5 per cent of men. This gap reflects the structural biases that continue to disadvantage women.

The UNDP report Breaking the Gridlock notes that global human development rebounded after the Covid-19 pandemic and reached a record high in 2023. However, the benefits of this progress have not been distributed equally. Wealthier nations have surged ahead, while many fragile countries remain below pre-pandemic levels.

Countries such as Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland lead the world in human development, while the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Somalia, Niger, Chad, Mali, Burundi, Yemen, and Burkina Faso continue to lag decades behind. Human development in Afghanistan has regressed by nearly a decade, while in Ukraine it has fallen to its lowest level since 2004. The combined impact of the pandemic, wars, regional conflicts, and climate change has denied millions the opportunity to rebuild their lives, deepening inequality and fuelling political polarization.

In India, initiatives such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao have helped raise awareness, but policy interventions alone are not enough. A transformation in social attitudes is equally essential. Women constitute 48.4 per cent of India's population. Excluding them from equal participation in development imposes costs on society as a whole.

A society is built by women and men together. As long as women's voices do not reach the decision-making table with equal strength, democracy will remain incomplete. Parliament is not merely a law-making institution; it is a mirror of society. A mirror that fails to reflect half of humanity cannot claim to present a true image.

Australia, Japan, and Ecuador have demonstrated that where political will is matched by effective policy, meaningful change is possible. What is needed is sustained political commitment, structural measures such as reservations and quotas, and a vision that recognizes women not merely as beneficiaries of welfare programmes but as equal citizens entitled to equal rights.

Until women's voices resonate with equal force in the corridors of power, the promise of democracy will remain unfulfilled.