Govt funds drive for gender equality in poor countries' politics

The Government today funded an initiative to help more women get involved in politics in developing countries.

The Minister for Overseas Development Michael Kitt allocated €1.1m for the Gender Equality in Politics programme run by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The IPU has worked for the past 30 years on empowering women parliamentarians and transforming parliaments into more gender-balanced institutions.

Mr Kitt said: “This project will foster more representative, accountable and transparent parliaments in developing countries.

“Our support reflects the priority that Irish Aid attaches to gender equality in promoting sustainable and inclusive development”.

Mr Kitt made the funding announcement outside Leinster House, joined by the Ambassador of Lesotho Mannete Ramaili and a number of female TDs and Senators.

Established in 1889, the IPU represents 146 national parliaments around the world, including the Oireachtas.

IPU secretary general, Anders Johnsson said: “Promoting gender equality in politics is one of the pillars of our work – indeed, the full participation of women is central to a truly representative and effective democracy and crucial to sustainable development.”

Support for the IPU programmes is a key element of Irish Aid’s strategy to strengthen parliaments in developing countries.