Women Political Leaders (WPL)

As AI continues to shape the future, it brings both tremendous opportunities and significant risks, particularly for women in politics. A comprehensive survey across five regions found that 82% of women parliamentarians experienced psychological violence during their terms—a staggering figure that highlights the urgency of this issue. At #UNGA79, Women Political Leaders (WPL) and Microsoft are hosting a critical session to address the growing threat of tech-facilitated gender-based violence in politics. This discussion will focus on safeguarding electoral integrity and ensuring that AI tools are used to support, not harm, women leaders. Aligned with the UN Global Digital Compact's commitment to eliminating technology-facilitated gender-based violence, our session will explore: Policy and legislative strategies to combat AI-driven online abuse. Collaborative efforts to create a safer, more equitable digital space. The essential role of women in shaping a trustworthy information ecosystem. Ensuring online safety for women in politics is vital to the preservation of democracy. If you’re interested in the intersection of innovation and equality, express your interest in this session here: https://lnkd.in/dBUjjbBW  #AIsafety #WomeninPolitics #WPL #Microsoft

Following the findings presented in our #RepresentationMatters report, WPL is convening a series of other sessions and conversations during #UNGA79 that focus on our key policy focus areas, including #LeadershipandGovernance, #DigitalisationandTechnology, and #Health: Sept 24th: Protecting Women Leaders: Combatting Abusive AI-Generated Content, supported by Microsoft Sept 26th: Her Health: A Demand for Equity with Bayer and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) These sessions will underscore the vital role of women's political representation and leadership in enhancing governance across diverse sectors. If you're in NYC during this time, express your interest here: https://lnkd.in/egK-8Nuu

WPL will be at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York City, 22nd-26th September. During the high-level week we will co-host our annual Representation Matters Reception with the Council on Foreign Relations and Salesforce. We also be unveiling the initial findings from our latest #RepresentationMatters report in partnership with The World Bank Women Business and the Law and the Oliver Wyman Forum. Our flagship Representation Matters report presents compelling evidence to show: - Higher rates of women’s political representation are closely linked to greater legal equality, increased economic opportunities and enhanced social resilience. - Women’s participation in policymaking directly contributes to improved national performance, driving progress in key areas. - Active involvement of women is crucial for the enactment and enforcement of equality laws, ensuring that legal frameworks reflect the needs of all citizens. Because #RepresentationMatters - it makes our societies, politics, and business better. Find more information on this and other WPL UNGA79 activities go to our website here : https://lnkd.in/gYquSYZ #UNGA79 #WomenPoliticalLeaders Photo credits: Chris Melzer/PA/Getty Images

Delighted that Sahar Albazar who is the Women Political Leaders (WPL) Country Albassador speaks on this important panel. #representationmatters is a joint project of the Women, Business and the Law The World Bank Women Political Leaders (WPL) and Oliver Wyman Forum . Thank you Hana Brixi for your leadership and thank you Sahar Albazar for representing WPL!

Great insights from Hana Brixi on how to support women's thought leadership. 1️⃣ Nurture leadership and invest in women and girls from early childhood all the way through education. 2️⃣ Use formal systems and policies to promote inclusive leadership teams and workplaces, develop career programs, and create leadership opportunities. 3️⃣ Develop informal institutions to challenge stereotypes, change norms and behaviours, and encourage men and boys to support gender equality. More below 👇

We celebrate the re-election of Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament and Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission. Women leaders not only improve the quality of politics, but encourage more women to get involved - improving things even further. However, with 38.75% of the 720 newly-elected MEPs being women, there has been a small but notable decrease in representation of women - the first since 1979. This shows that while Europe has done a lot to advance fair gender representation, there is still more to do. Europe needs to renew its commitment to achieving gender parity and ensuring all voices are equally represented in all political arenas - starting with the new College of Commissioners. #RepresentationMatters Photo credits: European Parliament

The new UK government has made history with the highest number of women ever in its cabinet and parliament. 11 out of 25 Ministers are women, including Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister and Rachel Reeves as the UK’s first woman Chancellor of the Exchequer. With over 40% of its members now women, the UK Parliament has reached a historic milestone. This achievement is a significant step towards equality between women and men and ensures that Parliament better reflects the UK population, where women make up 51%. #RepresentationMatters

Congratulations to Yuriko Koike on winning her third term as Governor of Tokyo, the world’s largest city and Japan’s influential capital! As the first woman to lead Tokyo, Governor Koike's re-election represents the success of women in political leadership roles and the positive impact they can have on governance and society. Gov. Koike has addressed the critical issue of violence against women in politics, sharing that she received threats and heckling during her campaign. Her resilience emphasises the necessity of amending legislation related to the electoral system. Join WPL in celebrating this achievement and let’s continue to support women leaders who are making history and driving positive change. #WomenPoliticalLeaders #RepresentationMatters #WomenInLeadership  #YurikoKoike #TokyoGovernor  #GenderEquality #WomenInGovernment #WPL

Women Political Leaders (WPL), supported by Microsoft, held the first online workshops of the WPL ‘Safeguarding Democracy’ series last week, on June 25th and June 27th. Titled ‘Defending Democracy in the Digital Age - The Power of Technology in Driving Equality’, the workshops brought together women Parliamentarians and political staffers to delve into the dual nature of Generative AI. Our objectives were to guide on: - Protecting democratic processes, institutions, and political leaders. - Maximizing the benefits of AI technology while addressing its risks. - Sharing practical tools to counter technology misuse, including deep fakes, disinformation, and online gender-based violence. These WPL workshops aim to play a crucial role in equipping women leaders in politics with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of technology in today's political landscape, ultimately fostering more resilient and inclusive democracies. Sincere thank you to esteemed members of the WPL community; Fatimazhra Belhirch, Fatoumatta Njai, Frances Fitzgerald, Mariam Lashkhi, Marilou McPhedran, and Neema K. Lugangira for sharing their experiences and insights. Our gratitude also goes to Microsoft - Brad Smith, for kicking off the workshops and to Dave Leichtman, Seth Reznik, and Marja Laitinen for their expert presentations on the potential of AI in promoting equality and strengthening democracy. Together, we are building a future where technology supports a more inclusive and resilient democracy. We look forward to the next round of workshops planned for later this year - let us know below what you would like to learn next and if you would like to participate! #WomenPoliticalLeaders #SafeguardingDemocracy #WomenInPolitics #AIandDemocracy #AIinPolitics #ArtificalIntelligence #TheFutureofGovernance

Join the second session of the WPL 'Safeguarding Democracy' workshop series, supported by Microsoft and delve with us into the critical role of AI in protecting democracy, promoting equality, and creating safer online spaces for women in politics. WPL is honoured to feature three distinguished speakers: Fatimazhra Belhirch, Member of the Senate of the Netherlands, Fatoumatta Njai, Member of the National Assembly of Gambia, and Marilou McPhedran, Member of the Senate of Canada, Co-Founder of The Canadian Association of Feminist Parliamentarians, WPL Country Ambassador Apply to register now: https://lnkd.in/dhaGVJfn #WomenPoliticalLeaders #WomenInPolitics #AIAndPolitics