ARUSHA: INTER-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Dr Tulia Ackson has called on parliaments worldwide to make gender parity a lasting culture in leadership and decision-making rather than an agenda that women have to keep demanding.
Dr Ackson said women must have equal representation, influence and power in leadership, stressing that the ultimate goal should be to reach a point where equal participation of women and men at decision-making tables becomes the norm.
She made the remarks yesterday during the Forum of Women Parliamentarians held on the sidelines of the 153rd IPU Assembly in Arusha.
“We demand parity in numbers. We demand influence. We demand power,” Dr Tulia said.
She said having women in parliament was not enough if they lacked the opportunity to speak, influence decisions or participate meaningfully in shaping policies.
“When women are invited to the table, or find themselves at the table, they must be able to make a difference through the influence that they have,” she said.
She urged parliamentarians to take the IPU Plan of Action for Gender Parity back to their respective countries and translate it into concrete action through advocacy, legislation and implementation.
“When we go back home, let’s take all the resolutions and, in this particular case, the plan for parity, back to our parliaments. Demand parity, argue for parity and legislate for parity,” she said.
She challenged parliamentarians to examine who holds leadership positions, who is heard and who can speak without fear, saying such questions could expose beliefs, traditions and unwritten rules that create unequal opportunities for women and men.
“Beyond questions, you are already in a position of power. Act on the answers,” she said.
She also called on male parliamentarians to become active allies in advancing gender equality and to bring other men into the conversation.
She said gender parity must also reflect the diversity of women, including young women, those from marginalised communities and women with disabilities.
“Listen to women with disabilities. Bring their priorities to the decision-making table,” she said, calling for conditions that would enable them to contest elections, enter parliament, take the floor and participate fully in decision-making.
On violence against women in politics, Dr Tulia warned that such violence should never be treated as normal, describing it as both a human rights and democracy issue.
“The abuse of women in politics must never be accepted as normal. This is a matter of human rights, a matter of democracy,” she said.
Dr Tulia said one of the achievements during her three-year tenure as IPU President was the amendment of the organisation’s statutes and rules to make gender parity one of its goals.
She also cited the adoption of the IPU’s first anti-harassment policy for its assemblies and events, which sets standards against harassment, including sexual harassment, and provides mechanisms for reporting and addressing incidents.
Another milestone, she said, was the election of Ms Anda Filip as the first woman Secretary General of the IPU.
Dr Tulia commended Ms Filip and urged women and men in the IPU family to give her the cooperation and support needed to make her tenure exemplary.
She described the IPU Bureau of Women Parliamentarians as a “powerhouse” for change and a “lighthouse” providing direction, saying its continued impact would depend on the commitment of parliamentarians.
As her tenure as IPU President comes to an end, Dr Tulia reflected on her election, saying she received support from both women and men.
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She said women had declared during her election campaign that it was “time for women”, with all candidates on the ballot being women.
Dr Tulia said the struggle for gender equality remained unfinished and pledged to continue supporting women.
“At my first forum, I said we needed to do much better and much faster. We still do,” she said. “I will always, always stand with you.”
She thanked the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Mussa Azzan Zungu, for arrangements that facilitated the successful hosting of the Assembly and President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for ensuring preparations were made for the meeting.
Dr Tulia stressed that gender equality could not be achieved by women alone, but required women and men to work together.
She urged parliamentarians to ensure that gender parity moved beyond speeches and resolutions and was translated into practical action.
