Every year, at the annual conference of global female political leaders, there is a group photo. It’s a heartwarming moment, when hundreds of elected politicians from almost every country in the world stand and smile for the camera. The image of so many women, and a couple of token men, makes a welcome change from the usual shots of world leaders.

Female politicians at the WPL global forum in Reykjavik, 2017. Photograph: Women Political Leaders Global Forum

It will happen again on Thursday in Lithuania, when a group photo is firmly on the agenda of this year’s meeting of Women Political Leaders, the independent, international organisation based in Iceland that campaigns for more women and greater female influence in positions of political leadership.

But behind the smiles, and despite what will no doubt be an upbeat opening speech by Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Lithuanian president, things remain tough for women trying to achieve positions of power.

For one thing, it’s proving hard work to get more women into parliaments. According to the UN, as of June 2016, only 23% of all national parliamentarians were women. In 195 countries, as of October 2017, only 11 women were heads of state and 12 were heads of government. Globally, in June 2016 there were 38 states in which women account for less than 10% of parliamentarians in single or lower houses, including four chambers with no women at all.

Not only is progress slow, but in other ways the position of female politicians is becoming more challenging. Violence against women appears to be increasing – a startling 82% of female parliamentarians who participated in a 2016 study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union reported having experienced some form of psychological violence (defined as remarks, gestures and images of a sexist or humiliating sexual nature made against them, or threats and/or mobbing to which they might have been subjected), mainly through social media, while in office. Nearly half of those surveyed (44%) reported having received death, rape, assault or abduction threats towards them or their families.

Then there is the constant challenge to prove the difference it makes when women participate in parliamentary decision-making. Because, for some reason, it doesn’t ever seem enough that women exist and so should be part of their country’s political process, just like men.

But that does mean one thing, at least: there is now a solid and growing body of evidence about the impact of having more diverse parliamentary bodies. As Minna Salami wrote last year, “not only are women in public office more likely to promote bills that address the socio-economic and political challenges facing disadvantaged groups, but their presence is also key to decreasing corruption and increasing political interest among young women. There should be no question about their value to all citizens.”

And it’s not all bad news. Look at the record number of women standing in Lebanon’s first elections since 2009. The Scottish government has allocated £500,000 to encourage greater representation of women in political roles at all levels of Scottish society. London this year hosted the first ever conference on combating violence against female politicians. And this year’s prestigious World Mayor prize, which recognises the work of city and regional mayors around the world, is dedicated entirely to women, with the aim of encouraging more to consider a career in local government and to stand for political office.

Jane Dudman is moderating a session on gender parity on Friday 8 June at the WPL Summit 2018.

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