Gender-sensitive Parliaments

Area 3 includes elements of substantive representation and concerns both elected members and parliamentary employees. The criterion is inward-oriented because it evaluates internal working procedures, but also outward-oriented, as it lays the foundation for gender-sensitive legislation processes.

A gender-sensitive parliament can systematically bring to the table topics and issues that acknowledge and promote women’s interests and concerns. In order to do so, a gender-sensitive parliament must have formal institutional mechanisms to promote gender equality, recognising its political importance and societal relevance. A gender-sensitive parliament ensures that women’s diverse needs, interests and strategic priorities are clearly articulated and represented, form part and parcel of all laws and policies, and are incorporated into institutional operations (OSCE 2017).

Area 3 has three domains:

The first domain explores the presence and resources of gender mainstreaming structures, such as gender equality bodies or cross-party networks.

The second domain assesses the existence of gender mainstreaming tools for MPs, such as gender equality training, gender equality plans and gender budgeting.

The third domain refers to the inclusion of a gender perspective in parliamentary employees’ work.