Dimension: 7.3.3 Gender and age balance in parliamentary bodies
This dimension concerns arrangements and practices relating to the representation of women and young MPs in leadership positions and in parliamentary bodies, including as Speakers or Deputy Speakers, in the presidium, on administrative and financial bodies, as committee chairs and vice-chairs, and as members of different committees.
Achieving gender and age balance in the leadership and composition of parliamentary bodies provides opportunities for women and young MPs to influence parliament’s work and helps to ensure that parliament addresses the needs of women and young people.
It is important that women MPs, in particular, should have access to leadership roles in all policy areas, including as chairs of foreign affairs, defence and finance committees.
For gender and age balance in the parliamentary secretariat, see also Indicator 5.2: Inclusive institutional practices.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Measures to promote equitable representation
Parliament takes measures to promote the equitable representation of women and young MPs in all parliamentary bodies.
No 2: Gender and age balance in leadership positions
MPs of different genders and ages are equitably represented in parliamentary leadership positions, including among committee chairs and vice-chairs.
No 3: Monitoring and reporting
Parliament monitors and reports on gender and age balance in the composition and leadership of parliamentary bodies.
How to complete this assessment
This dimension is assessed against several criteria, each of which should be evaluated separately. For each criterion, select one of the six descriptive grades (Non-existent, Rudimentary, Basic, Good, Very good and Excellent) that best reflects the situation in your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which this assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- The number of women and young MPs holding leadership positions in parliament
- The number of women and young MPs holding committee chair and vice-chair positions
- A list of members of different portfolio committees in parliament
- Provisions of the legal framework and/or parliament’s rules of procedure ensuring gender and age balance in parliamentary bodies and in the positions of chair, vice-chair and members of parliamentary committees
- Objectives and actions of parliament’s strategic plan and other policies outlining steps or special measures to ensure balanced representation of women and young MPs on parliamentary bodies
- Parliamentary communication materials showcasing the positive role that women and young MPs play across parliament’s work
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Gender-Sensitive parliaments: A Global Review of Good Practice (2011).
- IPU, Evaluating the gender-sensitivity of parliaments: A self-assessment toolkit (2016).
- IPU, Women in parliament in 2020: The year in review (2021).
- IPU, Youth participation in national parliaments (2021).
Get help with this assessment
The assessment of indicators involves diagnosing and considering strengths and weaknesses, i.e. the things parliament is doing well, and the things it could do better or more effectively, taking into account established good practices that are described in the indicators.
Read the assessment guidance to find out what to consider when conducting an assessment against the Indicators. Find out how to prepare, how to set the objectives of the assessment, how to organize the process, and more. Contact the project partners for expert advice.
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