These developments show that progress in gender equality remains slow in all structures of power and types of decision-making.

Power is still firmly in men’s hands, and although we have witnessed some positive trends—for example, the current record number of 53 women Speakers of Parliament out of 273 posts, globally — much remains to be done if women are to play on a level field with men.

Equal representation in positions of power is a fundamental precondition for truly effective and accountable democracy.