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Wegen der steigenden Öl-Preise lockern die USA vorübergehend die Sanktionen gegen Russland. Claudia Kemfert, Leiterin der Abteilung Energie, Verkehr, Umwelt im DIW Berlin, kommentiert dies wie folgt: 

Die temporäre Lockerung der Ölsanktionen gegen Russland ist energie- und geopolitisch ein falsches Signal. Sanktionen sollen den finanziellen Spielraum für Kriegsführung begrenzen. Wenn sie kurzfristig aufgeweicht werden, stärkt das genau jene fossilen Machtstrukturen, die Konflikte überhaupt erst ermöglichen. Die temporäre Lockerung der Ölsanktionen gegen Russland ist ein klassischer energiepolitischer Kurzschluss: Ein kurzfristiges Markt- oder Preisproblem wird ausgerechnet mit der Energiequelle beantwortet, die das Problem strukturell verursacht hat.

Wir sehen hier erneut das Muster der Fossilokratie: Kurzfristige Interessen am fossilen Energiesystem werden über langfristige sicherheits-, klima- und energiepolitische Ziele gestellt. Das stabilisiert Abhängigkeiten statt sie zu überwinden. Gerade jetzt wäre das Gegenteil notwendig: eine konsequente Reduktion fossiler Abhängigkeiten durch den beschleunigten Ausbau erneuerbarer Energien, Effizienz, Elektrifizierung und resilientere Energiesysteme. Wer Sanktionen gegen fossile Kriegsfinanzierung lockert, begeht einen energiepolitischen Kurzschluss – und verlängert damit die fossile Abhängigkeit und ihre geopolitischen Konflikte.

The policy brief by Ioannis Alexandris (Research Fellow, Wider Europe Programme – ELIAMEP & Researcher, think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration) and Dimitra Koutouzi (Defence Policy Analyst), “From Nuuk to Reykjavik: The High North’s geopolitical scramble and the consequences for the EU and its enlargement policy”, was prepared in the framework ELIAMEP’s initiative think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration, supported by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans.

This policy brief explores how the rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic are intersecting with the European Union’s enlargement policy. Heightened strategic competition in the High North—combined with uncertainty surrounding the transatlantic security architecture—has reopened debates in Iceland about reviving its EU accession process. Against this backdrop, the brief examines how a potential Iceland track could reshape the EU’s broader enlargement agenda.

While Iceland represents a relatively “low-friction” candidate due to its deep regulatory alignment with the EU, its potential return to accession negotiations raises important questions about the coherence and credibility of the Union’s enlargement strategy. Progress with an advanced Nordic partner could generate political momentum for enlargement but may also risk overshadowing more politically complex accession processes in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe. Countries that have waited over a decade in the accession queue may perceive accelerated progress for Iceland as evidence of a differentiated enlargement logic driven by geopolitical urgency rather than merit-based conditionality.

The brief therefore situates Iceland within the EU’s evolving enlargement landscape, highlighting how geopolitical considerations—including Arctic security, strategic autonomy, and shifting transatlantic relations—are increasingly shaping accession debates. Ultimately, it argues that the Union must balance strategic opportunities in the North Atlantic with the need to maintain credibility and fairness toward existing candidates, particularly in the Western Balkans. 

You can read the policy brief here.

One of the main arguments for implementing public works programmes (PWPs) instead of other social protection schemes such as cash transfers is that the assets created through these programmes themselves can generate medium- to long-term benefits. This is particularly important as the costs for supervision and the construction materials can account for up to 70 per cent of programme budgets. Despite this, there is scarce empirical evidence on PWPs’ effects through the “asset channel”: indeed; most studies have focused solely on the traditional “wage channel”. To bridge this gap, this paper examines whether and how assets created under Malawi’s Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) – a programme recently implemented by the government of Malawi and funded by the World Bank – strengthen the resilience of households to climate shocks such as droughts and floods. The paper relies on case study analysis using primary qualitative data based on focus group discussions and key informant interviews with different stakeholders at the national, district and community levels. Interviews were conducted during fieldwork in September 2024 in two southern districts of Malawi highly affected by climate change. The analysis is complemented by site visits and quantitative survey data on asset quality. By combining these methods, we find that the CS-EPWP generates durable, community-maintained assets, which in turn enhance households’ capacity to cope with and adapt to climate shocks. In particular, land-based assets provide multiple benefits for both households and communities, while forest-based interventions are expected to generate similar long-term gains, though further research is needed to confirm their (long-term) impacts. To maximise the impact of climate-smart public works programmes, policymakers and donors should align asset creation with climate objectives and adopt participatory approaches to ensure their relevance, maintenance and long-term sustainability.

Sophia Schubert is an independent researcher.
Dr Donald Makoka is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi.

One of the main arguments for implementing public works programmes (PWPs) instead of other social protection schemes such as cash transfers is that the assets created through these programmes themselves can generate medium- to long-term benefits. This is particularly important as the costs for supervision and the construction materials can account for up to 70 per cent of programme budgets. Despite this, there is scarce empirical evidence on PWPs’ effects through the “asset channel”: indeed; most studies have focused solely on the traditional “wage channel”. To bridge this gap, this paper examines whether and how assets created under Malawi’s Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) – a programme recently implemented by the government of Malawi and funded by the World Bank – strengthen the resilience of households to climate shocks such as droughts and floods. The paper relies on case study analysis using primary qualitative data based on focus group discussions and key informant interviews with different stakeholders at the national, district and community levels. Interviews were conducted during fieldwork in September 2024 in two southern districts of Malawi highly affected by climate change. The analysis is complemented by site visits and quantitative survey data on asset quality. By combining these methods, we find that the CS-EPWP generates durable, community-maintained assets, which in turn enhance households’ capacity to cope with and adapt to climate shocks. In particular, land-based assets provide multiple benefits for both households and communities, while forest-based interventions are expected to generate similar long-term gains, though further research is needed to confirm their (long-term) impacts. To maximise the impact of climate-smart public works programmes, policymakers and donors should align asset creation with climate objectives and adopt participatory approaches to ensure their relevance, maintenance and long-term sustainability.

Sophia Schubert is an independent researcher.
Dr Donald Makoka is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi.

One of the main arguments for implementing public works programmes (PWPs) instead of other social protection schemes such as cash transfers is that the assets created through these programmes themselves can generate medium- to long-term benefits. This is particularly important as the costs for supervision and the construction materials can account for up to 70 per cent of programme budgets. Despite this, there is scarce empirical evidence on PWPs’ effects through the “asset channel”: indeed; most studies have focused solely on the traditional “wage channel”. To bridge this gap, this paper examines whether and how assets created under Malawi’s Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) – a programme recently implemented by the government of Malawi and funded by the World Bank – strengthen the resilience of households to climate shocks such as droughts and floods. The paper relies on case study analysis using primary qualitative data based on focus group discussions and key informant interviews with different stakeholders at the national, district and community levels. Interviews were conducted during fieldwork in September 2024 in two southern districts of Malawi highly affected by climate change. The analysis is complemented by site visits and quantitative survey data on asset quality. By combining these methods, we find that the CS-EPWP generates durable, community-maintained assets, which in turn enhance households’ capacity to cope with and adapt to climate shocks. In particular, land-based assets provide multiple benefits for both households and communities, while forest-based interventions are expected to generate similar long-term gains, though further research is needed to confirm their (long-term) impacts. To maximise the impact of climate-smart public works programmes, policymakers and donors should align asset creation with climate objectives and adopt participatory approaches to ensure their relevance, maintenance and long-term sustainability.

Sophia Schubert is an independent researcher.
Dr Donald Makoka is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi.

Le président Poutine se présente comme un médiateur potentiel, mais cela semble peu convaincant, selon l'analyse de Steve Rosenberg. Malgré cela, Moscou tire d'autres avantages du conflit.

Unsplash Fort of Goree Island, Senegal, was the site of one of the earliest European settlements in Western Africa. Source UN News
The calls for reparatory justice can no longer be ignored, speakers at the fourth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on African Descent said last April.
They urged greater collaboration between governments, civil society and regional organizations to create a system that would compensate Africa and the African diaspora for the enduring legacies of colonialism, enslavement, apartheid and genocide between the 16th and 19th centuries. “Africa was under siege,” said Hilary Brown, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) about the 300 years of enslavement and exploitation on the continent. “Her political, economic and social systems thrown into chaotic instability as Europe plundered the continent for her most valuable asset, her people.”

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
MOSCOW, Mar 13 2026 (IPS)

Professor Jude Osakwe—a Nigerian scholar at the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) and Continental Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Africa (NIDOAF)—has reiterated the absolute truth over Reparations for Africa, noting that African governments have consistently expressed only ’emotional solidarity’ over Reparations instead of tackling and addressing, with seriousness, this pertinent issue within the context of diplomacy.

He strongly believes that despite sharp political and cultural diversity influencing developments, African leaders can still adopt a collective strategy in pursuit of advantageous aspirations for sustaining continental sovereignty. The concept of Pan-Africanism is noticeably fragmented while grassroot movements lack strategic coordination.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

How well do African people represent the continent on Reparations and Pan-Africanism?

Professor Jude Osakwe: Honestly, inadequately, but not without effort. Representation is fragmented. The loudest voices on reparations often come from the Caribbean and African-American communities, while continental Africans, remain largely sidelined in that global conversation.

Pan-Africanism as an ideology is more spoken about than practiced. There is emotional solidarity, but very little structural unity. The honest reality is that African governments have not made reparations a serious diplomatic priority, and grassroots movements lack the coordination to pressure them to do so.

Does the diaspora media landscape affect how these topics are viewed in a Western light?

Professor Osakwe: Absolutely.

Western media frames Pan-Africanism as either nostalgic romanticism or a political threat, and frames reparations as a Black American issue, effectively erasing the continental African dimension entirely. As an African in the diaspora, you are constantly navigating between your own lived framework and a media environment that either misrepresents or ignores your perspective.

This creates a psychological burden, you must actively resist the dominant narrative just to maintain an accurate self-understanding. African diaspora media exists, but it remains underfunded and underreached compared to mainstream outlets, which means the Western framing dominates public discourse by default.

What are the measures for upholding African identity in the diaspora, and diaspora contributions amid geopolitical shifts?

Professor Osakwe: Key measures:

• Intentional cultural transmission, language, history, and values must be actively taught, not assumed
• Building diaspora institutions that are African-led, not just African-themed
• Political engagement both in host countries and in countries of origin
• Economic networking through platforms like NIDO that connect diaspora professionals to continental development

On geopolitical contributions: The current moment, with Africa renegotiating relationships with Western powers, China, Russia, and Gulf states, is actually an opportunity for the diaspora. Diaspora Africans sitting inside Western governments, universities, and financial institutions carry real leverage.

The question is whether that leverage gets used collectively or dissipates individually. Remittances already outpace foreign aid to many African countries. What’s needed now is moving beyond remittances to strategic investment, policy advocacy, and knowledge transfer, turning the diaspora from a financial lifeline into a genuine development partner.

Kester Kenn Klomegah focuses on current geopolitical changes, foreign relations and economic development-related questions in Africa with external countries. Most of his well-resourced articles are reprinted in several reputable foreign media.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Également dans l'édition de vendredi : Référendum sur la justice en Italie, FAO, sanctions contre la Russie, élections municipales

The post Le pari de Meloni appeared first on Euractiv FR.

À partir de la lecture de Gioia Battista, … e vivere, dopo tanto, come volevo. Anita Pittoni, Electa, 2026, 96 p.

- Lire et écrire les Balkans. Out of the box • le blog de Christophe Solioz / Blogs - Diaporama

Iran-Krieg und US-Handelspolitik belasten deutsche Wirtschaft etwas, stoppen aber bisher Aufschwung nicht – Gestiegene Energiepreise dürften Inflation um 0,4 Prozentpunkte erhöhen und Wirtschaftswachstum um 0,1 bis 0,2 Prozentpunkte senken – Expansive Finanzpolitik stützt deutsche Erholung – In ...

Written by Linda Tothova and Sebastian Clapp.

Joint procurement of defence equipment by the EU has gained renewed strategic importance in response to the recent deteriorating security environment and persistent fragmentation within the European defence market. Although the European Defence Agency set a 35 % collaborative procurement benchmark back in 2007, cooperation among Member States remains limited. The 2022 coordinated annual review on defence reported that only 18 % of defence investment took place collaboratively, far below agreed targets. While total EU defence expenditure reached €381 billion in 2025, increased spending has not translated into commensurate growth in joint acquisition. EU institutions continue to highlight duplication issues, capability gaps and over-reliance on non‑EU suppliers.

To address these shortcomings, the Union has expanded financial and regulatory instruments. EDIRPA, EDIP and SAFE provide grants and loans to incentivise joint procurement, while the defence readiness roadmap 2030 raises the ambition to 40 % joint procurement by 2027. Targeted adjustments to the Defence Procurement Directive aim to reduce administrative barriers and facilitate multinational contracting.

Joint procurement offers potential economies of scale, stronger bargaining leverage, greater industrial predictability and enhanced interoperability. Studies indicate that meeting collaborative benchmarks could generate annual savings of several billion euros. Yet significant constraints persist, including differing threat perceptions by national governments, industrial competition that often runs counter to consolidation, governance complexity and risks of cost overruns in multinational programmes.

The European Parliament has consistently supported deeper pooling and interoperability, urging collaborative acquisition to be prioritised in EU instruments while cautioning against incentives that may reinforce national disparities. Sustained progress therefore depends on credible demand aggregation, coherent defence planning and effective coordination across EU and NATO frameworks.

Read the complete briefing on ‘EU joint defence procurement‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

La plateforme Nimfomane met en relation clients et escortes et monétise leur visibilité depuis près de vingt ans. Malgré son apparition dans des dizaines d'enquêtes liées au proxénétisme et au trafic d'êtres humains, le site continue d'opérer sans poursuites directes. Une enquête du média roumain PressOne.

- Articles / Roumanie, Courrier des Balkans, Défense, police et justice, Une - Diaporama, Femmes violences, Une - Diaporama - En premier, Société

Le Groupe Ecobank, premier groupe bancaire panafricain, a annoncé aujourd'hui une augmentation de 194 % des financements accordés aux entreprises dirigées par des femmes du secteur formel, avec 780 millions de dollars US de prêts accordés en 2025, contre 265 millions de dollars US en 2024, alors que ses initiatives axées sur le genre accélèrent l'entrepreneuriat et la croissance économique locale à travers l'Afrique. Cette annonce a été faite à l'occasion du lancement du Rapport sur le Programme du Genre à Ecobank, dans le cadre de la célébration de la Journée internationale des droits des femmes 2026.

Les femmes entrepreneures jouent un rôle essentiel dans les économies africaines, en créant des emplois, en soutenant les familles et en renforçant les chaînes de valeur locale. Pourtant, malgré des niveaux élevés d'entrepreneuriat, les entreprises dirigées par des femmes sur le continent continuent de faire face à un déficit de financement estimé à 42 milliards de dollars, ce qui limite leur capacité à se développer, à investir et à croître

À travers ses initiatives axées sur le genre, la banque œuvre à combler cet écart en combinant des produits financiers adaptés, des programmes de formation, du mentorat et un meilleur accès aux marchés régionaux, permettant ainsi aux femmes entrepreneures de développer des entreprises durables.

Élargir l'accès au financement, au soutien aux entreprises et aux opportunités continentales

Initialement lancé en novembre 2020 pour soutenir les entreprises dirigées par des femmes touchées par la crise du Covid-19, le programme Ellever d'Ecobank est devenu l'initiative bancaire dédiée aux femmes la plus étendue géographiquement sur le continent, soutenant plus de 103 000 femmes entrepreneures du secteur formel à travers l'Afrique. Suite à son extension dans 26 pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest, centrale, de l'Est et australe en 2025, le programme a enregistré l'intégration de 21 000 nouvelles entrepreneures dans son écosystème, tandis que plus de 24 000 femmes ont bénéficié de formations, de mentorat ou d'autres formes d'accompagnement non financier.

Le programme met également en relation les entreprises dirigées par des femmes avec des opportunités de commerce continental via l'Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub, permettant aux entrepreneures d'atteindre des clients et partenaires dans différents marchés africains et de s'étendre au-delà de leurs pays d'origine.

Soutenir les entrepreneures de base et les entreprises informelles

Ecobank étend également son soutien aux femmes entrepreneures opérant dans l'économie informelle. Grâce au programme MAMA, lancé au Ghana en 2024, la banque propose des crédits subventionnés, des solutions d'épargne adaptées et des conseils pratiques pour la gestion d'entreprise aux femmes qui dirigent de petites entreprises ou des activités informelles.

Nombre de ces entrepreneures génèrent des flux de trésorerie quotidiens solides, mais restent exclues du financement traditionnel en raison d'un manque de documentation ou de garanties. En accompagnant progressivement la formalisation des entreprises et la constitution d'historiques financiers, le programme permet à ces femmes de passer vers l'économie formelle et d'accéder progressivement à des financements plus importants. Entrant dans sa deuxième année, l'initiative a déjà intégré plus de 10 000 femmes actives dans le secteur informel, tandis que plus de 2 000 femmes ont bénéficié de crédits subventionnés pour un montant total de plus de 1,8 million de dollars US.

Mobiliser des capitaux pour combler le déficit de financement lié au genre

Ecobank mobilise également de nouvelles sources de financement afin d'élargir l'accès au capital pour les entreprises dirigées par des femmes. En mars 2025, Ecobank Côte d'Ivoire a lancé la première obligation genre (Gender Bond) dans la région UEMOA et seulement la deuxième en Afrique, levant plus de 11 milliards de francs CFA (environ 18,2 millions de dollars US) en 48 heures, dépassant ainsi son objectif initial. Les fonds levés permettront de financer près de 1 200 nouveaux prêts destinés aux PME appartenant à des femmes, renforçant ainsi l'accès au financement pour les entrepreneures en Afrique de l'Ouest.

Jeremy Awori, directeur général du Groupe Ecobank, a déclaré : « Les femmes entrepreneures comptent parmi les moteurs les plus puissants de la croissance économique locale en Afrique. Pourtant, beaucoup continuent de faire face à des obstacles en matière de financement qui limitent leur capacité à se développer. Chez Ecobank, nous travaillons à combler cet écart en combinant capital, renforcement des capacités et accès aux marchés grâce à notre plateforme panafricaine. La forte progression des financements accordés aux entreprises dirigées par des femmes reflète à la fois la demande des entrepreneures et l'impact d'initiatives telles que Ellever et notre Gender Bond, qui contribuent à mobiliser des capitaux spécifiquement pour soutenir la croissance portée par les femmes. »

À l'avenir, Ecobank prévoit d'étendre la version renforcée du programme Ellever à l'ensemble de ses marchés, d'intensifier l'accompagnement non financier, notamment à travers des outils numériques et des parcours de formalisation des entreprises, de renforcer ses partenariats avec les institutions de financement du développement et les investisseurs à impact, et de lancer de nouveaux produits financiers spécialement conçus pour les femmes.

Le gouvernement béninois a annoncé ce mercredi 11 mars 2026, en Conseil des ministres, des travaux de requalification urbaine du parcours rituel de la Gaani à Nikki.
Le parcours rituel de la Gaani à Nikki connaitra une modification en raison de la construction du nouveau palais du Roi. Il passe désormais de sept à huit stations sacrées selon le Conseil des ministres.
Le gouvernement a donc autorisé la contractualisation pour des travaux de requalification des stations et du parcours afin de préserver la cohérence culturelle, renforcer la sécurité des participants et valoriser davantage l'événement sur le plan touristique.
La Gaani de Nikki est une célébration culturelle et cultuelle séculaire de l'Empire Baatonou, constituant l'une des plus importantes manifestations du patrimoine immatériel du Bénin.
Akpédjé Ayosso

Le gouvernement béninois a annoncé ce mercredi 11 mars 2026, en Conseil des ministres, des travaux de requalification urbaine du parcours rituel de la Gaani à Nikki.
Le parcours rituel de la Gaani à Nikki connaitra une modification en raison de la construction du nouveau palais du Roi. Il passe désormais de sept à huit stations sacrées selon le Conseil des ministres.
Le gouvernement a donc autorisé la contractualisation pour des travaux de requalification des stations et du parcours afin de préserver la cohérence culturelle, renforcer la sécurité des participants et valoriser davantage l'événement sur le plan touristique.
La Gaani de Nikki est une célébration culturelle et cultuelle séculaire de l'Empire Baatonou, constituant l'une des plus importantes manifestations du patrimoine immatériel du Bénin.
Akpédjé Ayosso

Le gouvernement béninois a approuvé, mercredi 11 mars 2026, en Conseil des ministres, les statuts de la Maison de l'artiste et de son régime électoral.

« A la suite de l'adoption du statut de l'artiste, le présent cadre institutionnel se révèle comme une avancée notable pour l'épanouissement complet de celui-ci », informe le Conseil des ministres. Le 4 mars dernier, le gouvernement béninois a adopté le décret de Statut de l'artiste et des professionnels de la culture au Bénin. L'objectif est de doter les artistes et les professionnels de la culture du Bénin d'un statut juridique, social et économique.
La Maison assure « pour les artistes une mission d'identification et d'immatriculation, d'accompagnement professionnel, de formation, d'information/conseil, et de représentation auprès de l'ensemble des pouvoirs publics et autres institutions ». Elle est dotée d'une Assemblée délibérative, d'un Bureau exécutif, de commissions techniques, de délégations départementales, d'un Secrétariat général ainsi que d'organes de contrôle.

« L'adoption de ces textes consacre donc une organisation propice à l'exercice des professions qu'ils encadrent et qui sont de nature à favoriser le développement d'une véritable industrie culturelle et créative au Bénin », explique le Conseil des ministres.

Akpédjé Ayosso

Le procès d'Ekrem İmamoğlu et d'un peu plus de 400 co-accusés s'est ouvert lundi. Ils sont accusés d'avoir formé une vaste « entreprise criminelle ». Cette première semaine de procès a été marquée chaque jour par des incidents et des tensions.

- Articles / Courrier des Balkans, Erdogan, Politique, Turquie, Une - Diaporama

The Women in Politics 2026 map from IPU and UN Women was launched at an event at CSW70, 11 March 2026. Credit: UN Women/Ryan Brown. Source: IPU
 
New Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – UN Women data show women remain far from equal political power, holding just 22.4 per cent of cabinet posts and 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide.

By UN Women
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 13 2026 (IPS)

Across the world, women remain vastly under-represented in political leadership, with the most powerful decisions still overwhelmingly made by men. In 2026, only 28 countries are led by a woman Head of State or Government, while 101 countries have never had a woman leader, according to the latest data released by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women.

When women are shut out of political leadership, decisions that shape peace, security, and economic priorities are made without half of the world’s experience at the table. The new global data reveals stagnation, and in some cases regression, in women’s political leadership, particularly in executive government.

Key findings from the data released by IPU and UN Women include:

o Women hold just 22.4 per cent of cabinet minister positions globally, down from 23.3 per cent in 2024, marking a reversal after years of gradual progress.

o Fourteen countries have achieved gender parity in cabinets, demonstrating that equal representation is possible, yet eight countries still have no women ministers at all.

o Women hold 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide, up slightly from 27.2 per cent in 2025. The increase of just 0.3 percentage points marks the second consecutive year of the slowest growth recorded since 2017, highlighting how slowly women are advancing in political decision-making power.

o Women are also losing ground in parliamentary leadership. As of January 2026, 54 women serve as Speakers of Parliament globally, representing 19.9 per cent of all Speakers. This represents a nearly four-percentage-point decline from the previous year and the first drop in women Speakers in 21 years.

o Women in politics face rising hostility and intimidation from the public, both online and offline. Seventy-six per cent of women parliamentarians surveyed report experiencing intimidation by the public, compared with 68 per cent of men – a trend that deters women from seeking office and slows progress toward equal political power.

o Even when women reach leadership positions, they are often concentrated in a narrow range of portfolios traditionally linked to social sectors.

o Women lead 90 per cent of gender-equality ministries and 73 per cent of ministries responsible for family and children’s affairs, reinforcing long-standing gender stereotypes in political leadership. Men continue to lead almost exclusively ministries like defense, home affairs, justice, economic affairs, governance, health, and education.

“At a time of growing global instability, escalating conflicts and a visible backlash against women’s rights, shutting women out of political leadership weakens societies’ ability to respond to the challenges they face,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

“Women bring perspectives and experience that are essential for making better decisions, preventing conflict and building lasting peace. When women are fully involved in political leadership, countries are more stable, policies work better for people, and societies are better prepared to face the crises shaping our world today.”

“Parity is a moral imperative, because women have an equal right to shape the decisions that govern their lives. But it is also the smart thing to do. Institutions make better decisions when they reflect the societies they serve. They are better able to identify bias, design fairer responses, and earn public trust when women from all backgrounds are present, and influential, at every level,” said IPU President Tulia Ackson.

“The IPU has constantly proven that well-designed quotas and strong political will are essential to speed up change and ensure that women’s voices are heard in democratic decision-making. At the same time, men and women must work together as equal partners to transform political culture, challenge stereotypes, and build inclusive parliaments that reflect the people they represent,” said IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong.

Despite the slow pace of change, women around the world continue to push boundaries and assert their place in political life. Removing structural barriers, including discriminatory laws, violence against women in politics, and unequal access to resources, as well as challenging negative social norms, will be critical to ensuring women’s equal political leadership in the years ahead.

This year’s 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women – (which is scheduled to conclude March 19) the United Nations’ highest-level intergovernmental body that sets global standards for women’s rights and gender equality – is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the rollback of women’s rights.

The future of democracy will be stronger, fairer, and more resilient when women are equally represented in decision-making at all levels.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Les météorologues alertent sur l’arrivée d’une puissante perturbation atmosphérique sur l’ensemble du nord du pays à partir de dimanche prochain. Selon les modèles numériques de […]

L’article Changement brutal des conditions météo en Algérie : que nous réserve le temps dès ce vendredi 13 mars ? est apparu en premier sur .

Im Podcast “intim&laut” erörtern Blick-Gesellschaftsreporterin Sandra Casalini und Paartherapeutin Ramona Zenger, warum Beziehungen in die Sexlosigkeit abdriften und ob Frauen tatsächlich vor allem Nähe brauchen und Männer Sex.