Gender Equality in Politics: A Persistent Challenge
As we approach the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, it is essential to examine the ongoing challenges and gradual progress regarding women’s participation in politics and diplomacy. The 2024 Women in Diplomacy Index reveals that only 21% of ambassadors and permanent representatives to the United Nations are women, marking a modest increase from 20.5% in the previous year. Despite this advancement, the overall pace of change remains slow.
Global Context of Gender Parity
The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 highlights that political empowerment for women has increased from 22.5% to 22.9%. This figure is significantly behind other dimensions measured, including economic participation (61%), educational attainment (95.1%), and health (96.2%). Although political empowerment has improved since 2006’s 14.3%, projections indicate it will take approximately 162 years to achieve full gender parity in this area.
Regional Insights: The Middle East and North Africa
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the situation is particularly concerning, as this region ranks last in the Global Gender Gap Index. Although it excels in education (fifth globally) and health (sixth globally), women’s participation in the workforce is only 42.4%. Political empowerment remains critically low, with a score of just 10.5%. The region trails in ambassadorial roles, with representation stalling at around 10%, and women in parliament average a mere 16.7%.
Saudi Arabia: A Path of Progress
While Saudi Arabia ranks 132nd in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index, it stands out as one of the countries making significant strides in political empowerment and economic participation. Women have held positions in the Foreign Ministry since the early 2000s and have made history with appointments such as Princess Reema bint Bandar, the first female ambassador, who was appointed in 2019. Currently, Saudi Arabia has five female ambassadors, reflecting an upward trend in women’s political involvement.
Challenges to Female Participation
Research identifies multiple barriers that hinder women’s advancement in politics and diplomacy. These include societal expectations for women to be primary caregivers, challenges related to relocation for job requirements, as well as public scrutiny and gender-based harassment. Additionally, the ingrained stereotype that political roles are male-dominated can deter women from pursuing such careers.
Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Women in Politics
According to the Arab Barometer Gender Report 2024, gender equality perceptions in political contexts have regressed in recent years. Agreement with the statement “men are better at political leadership than women” has increased in six of the seven surveyed countries, returning to levels observed a decade ago. Interestingly, both men and women exhibit this sentiment, although a larger proportion of women disagree.
Despite these challenges, there is a notable desire among the populace for women’s inclusion in political roles. A significant majority support the idea of reserving Cabinet positions and parliamentary seats for women, recognizing the positive implications of having women in leadership for advancing women’s rights.
The Importance of Female Representation
Having more women in significant political roles is increasingly seen as vital, especially given the myriad of global crises ranging from conflict to humanitarian issues. Research indicates that diverse perspectives and the inclusion of women in decision-making processes contribute positively to conflict resolution and foreign policy outcomes.
“In Saudi Arabia, there has been a steady increase in the number of women in leadership positions in politics during the past few years.”
The journey toward gender equality in politics is ongoing and marked by gradual progress. As nations strive for improved women’s representation, it is crucial to support policies that foster equal opportunities and dismantle barriers constraining women’s participation.
