Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Chairperson speaks about gender equality in Parliaments and women's leadership at 13th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in The Bahamas

The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network, Hon. Zainab Gimba, MP (Nigeria) highlighted the positive impact of women’s leadership at the 13th Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas, from 21 to 23 August 2023.

Addressing Ministers during a session on ‘Commonwealth Priorities for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment – Women in Leadership’, the CWP Chairperson said:

“Recent data obtained by the CPA/CWP in July 2023 reveals that 23 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures have under 5% representation of women. This is one less Parliament than in 2022. Of those Parliaments, 14 have zero percent representation. This figure was the same in 2022.

This data shows that there is still much more work to be done by Parliaments to ensure that their institutions are those that embrace both gender equality and the empowerment of women.”

The CWP Chairperson also highlighted the important role and support gender champions can give to help advance women in positions of leadership.

The annual meeting brought together Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers to consider strategies for achieving gender equality across all 56 member countries. The proposed strategies include ways to adopt an intersectional approach that empowers women and girls with disabilities, ensure gender-responsive climate action, and establish a robust framework for reporting on Commonwealth priorities for gender equality.

At the meeting, Women’s Affairs Ministers from Commonwealth countries committed to a roadmap, designed to scale up efforts to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls, especially in climate action.

Following the meeting, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, said:

“The outcomes of the meeting send a clear message that the Commonwealth is determined to lead by example towards ensuring women and girls are not left behind in our efforts to achieve sustainable development and climate justice.”

Above: The Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network, Hon. Zainab Gimba, MP (Nigeria) met with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC.

In the margins of the meeting, the CWP Chairperson also met with the President of the Senate of The Bahamas and CPA Bahamas Branch President, Senator Lashell Adderley, to discuss the issues that Bahamian women in politics face and opportunities for collaboration with the CWP network.

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The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) was founded in 1989 to increase the number of female elected representatives in 180 Parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth and to ensure that women’s issues are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation. The network campaigns for gender equality in all spheres. For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.