Women and Climate

Women bear the brunt of climate change and are inextricably linked to solutions for viable Global Futures for both people and planet.

Take action:

• Advocate! Support implementation of the Lima Gender Action Plan and call on your country to integrate gender equality into national climate policies.
• Educate! Support intersectional climate education for both schools and your parliamentary colleagues.
• Promote! Call for women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in climate leadership at all levels.
• Act! Be a role model by starting or joining a Parliamentary Working Group to promote gender responsive climate action.

Laws

Only a handful of countries have legislated full gender equality. Time for change to benefit not only women and girls, but also everyone, everywhere.

Take action:

1. Review your country’s progress at Women, Business and the Law
2. Explore examples of discriminatory laws at Equality Now
3. See when the next Universal Periodic Reviewfor your country will take place
4. Review the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Handbook for Parliamentarians on this Convention.

Leadership

40% of the successful responses to COVID-19 came from just 7% of world leaders — women! Why are there still so few women in positions of power and influence? See how you can help create a “diversity dividend.”

Take action:

1. Review your country’s progress on women’s participation in government at the IPU and your company’s representation of women in executive positions at the Corporate Women’s Director International report.
2. Explore data on gender quotas and whether or not your country has them at IDEA.
3. Advocate for a gender-sensitive workplace by encouraging businesses to commit to the Women Empowerment Principles.
4. Commit to be a mentor, sponsor and/or guide for a woman in your life.

Women, Peace and Security

One hundred years ago only 5% of deaths in conflicts were civilian — now it is close to 90%! UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was unanimously passed in 2000, and was the first resolution to address the impact of conflict on women and the importance of women to peace and security. What does it mean for you and your country?

Take action:

• 1. Review your country’s progress at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security.
• 2. Review UN Security Council Resolution 1325and ensure that your country has a Women, Peace and Security national action plan in place to implement the resolution at Peace Women.
• 3. Help your country budget for practical implementation of this plan at Peace Women.
• 4. Put that plan into action.

Violence Against Women and Girls

Violence against women and girls is unfortunately widespread in every region of the world. Chances are, either you or someone you know is a victim. Help change that!

Take action:

• 1. Encourage your country to pass strong legislation that tackles all facets of violence against women. Explore laws that other countries have committed to at UN Women.
• 2. Ensure that your country has ratified the ILO Convention 190.
• 3. Join the #NotInMyParliament initiative to combat violence against women in your workplace.
• 4. Use your parliamentary oversight function to ensure that there is adequate funding for resources alleviating violence against women.
• 5. Review the civil societies and public authorities that are working on violence against women. Explore some of the civil societies that worked with the UN Women and Secretary General.