Advocating for women in politics is a mission that Liberal International has undertaken over many years. Today LI launches its Women in Political Parties Index (WIPP Index) and with this the global federation takes the next step: empowering member parties to deliver real change.
Using an online platform, the LI human rights committee is rolling out a first-of-its-kind tool to assist LI member parties in boosting inclusivity within their party structures and to advance the presence of women in politics. The Index is now OPEN to the entire membership! If you would like to find our more, contact LI’s human rights officer, Mikaela Hellman.
The index gives all LI member parties the opportunity to measure their party’s Women in Political Parties (WIPP) Index, i.e. the level of diversity and inclusivity within their party. The parties will then, with the help of the Inclusivity Handbook, have a chance to boost the inclusivity and diversity within their party structures through dedicated training sessions.
Initiating this work in early 2019, LI gathered representatives from our global membership at two expert forums, one at the fringes of the ALN General Assembly in Marrakech, Morocco and one hosted by LI Vice President Abir al Sahlani and Centerpartiet in Stockholm, Sweden.
At the 202nd Executive Committee in London, UK, LI consultant Tamara Dancheva presented the index survey to the membership. Norwegian Minister for Equality Trine Skei Grande (Venstre, Norway) and MEP Naomi Long (Alliance Party, UK) gave the LI membership inspirational keynote speeches on their experiences of being treated differently as women in politics, and the crucial importance of addressing this issue for women all over the world.
During the autumn of 2019, the WIPP Index was tested by six LI member parties who gave the Secretariat feedback on the product. The parties testing the index are from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The testing parties D66 (Netherlands), Democratic Alliance (South Africa), and Centerpartiet (Sweden) shared their feedback with the secretariat and the LI membership in a panel discussion at the 203rd Executive Committee in Fès, Morocco.
In providing these results, Liberal International’s objective is to assist our member parties in promoting greater participation of women in politics, which research shows benefits political parties, countries, and governments.
