#GenderEqualParliament Pledge
Women are 51% of the population but currently account for only 35% of MPs. In fact, there have only ever been 563 female MPs – all together they wouldn’t even fill the House of Commons Chamber.
We are calling on political parties, candidates and others to sign up to our pledge to support actions that will deliver a #GenderEqualParliament by 2028.
I pledge to support actions that will deliver a #GenderEqualParliament
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Gender Equal Parliament Pledge
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We are calling on the parties to consider the following actions:
- Committing to voluntarily publishing candidate diversity data until Section 106 is enacted;
- Reviewing and improving their selection processes to ensure that they work for women candidates and that there are no structural barriers hampering the participation of under represented groups;
- Developing and publishing an action plan to achieve and maintain gender parity in their party, this might include targets around representation, using the provision in the Equality Act 2010 to have All-women shortlists, training for women candidates etc;
- Supporting the work of women’s organisations within their political party in their efforts to increase the selection of women;
- Ensuring the representation of women at the highest levels, including in cabinet and key parliamentary roles;
- Liaising with women MPs to better understand their personal experiences and views about current working practices, facilities and provision for diverse needs and work to deliver change;
- Reinstating a formalised funding scheme for disabled candidates and ensuring it is accessible and run by disabled people themselves.
- Reviewing and improving the party’s sexual harassment and complaint policies to ensure that they are transparent, quick, victim-focused and independent, and cover volunteers, employees and elected and appointed representatives. This should be combined with training and action to create culture change to prevent sexual harassment.
We are calling on the parties to make manifesto commitments to:
- Enact Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 so that all parties are required to publish diversity data on candidates standing for elections to the House of Commons, Scottish Parliament and the Senedd.
- Create a new body to drive diversity and inclusivity reforms in the House of Commons. This body should review recommendations made to date and lead and push forward the gender sensitive parliament agenda including overseeing regular future audits.
- Commit to addressing online violence against women and girls through legislation and other mechanisms. Solutions should focus on prevention and safety by design and be future-proofed to tackle emerging harms.
- Review parliamentary procedures and support systems to ensure they work for MPs with caring responsibilities. This should include ensuring all MPs have access to parental leave.
- Extend the provision in the Equality Act 2010 allowing All-women shortlists until no longer required.
- Undertake a review of measures introduced in Parliament during the pandemic for their impact on diversity, and reintroduce those which improve predictability and flexibility of work for MPs
- Reinstate a formalised funding scheme for disabled candidates and ensure it is accessible and run by disabled people themselves.
Centenary Action Convenor, Helen Pankhurst, wrote to party leaders to ask them to support our #GenderEqualParliament pledge. See below for their replies:
Our Pledgers:
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Georgina Brocklehurst | |
| Anna Polojarvi | |
| Azry Kaloko | University of Birmingham |
| Zion Ateba | |
| Joy Doal | Anawim birmingham Centre for Women |
| Shaheena Ahmed | |
| Hasanh Abdelkarim | |
| Sibel Oztas | |
| Samantha Mambu | Student |
| Ellen Ball | |
| Sasha Venchard | |
| Rebekah Ajuchi | |
| KellyBella Ansah-Yeboah | university of birmingham |
| Karen McDonagh Reynolds | |
| Lara Bishop | Aurora Media Worldwide |
| Suzanne Steele | Adobe |
| Irena DZikija | |
| Kerrie Portman | |
| Di Hill | SI Bath & District |
| Elizabeth Schofield | |
| Maudie McHardy | Soroptimist International |
| Diane Steele | Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Hari Emmeline | Fawcett Society |
| Louise Timlin | |
| Gail Gravett | |
| Nicola Braidford | Soroptomists |
| Angela Holmes | Soroptimist International Wigan Club |
| Catherine Hannaford | Soroptimist International |
| Jane Slatter | Soroptimist International |
| Pam Roebuck | |
| Kim Bramham | Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland |
| Nikki Pawsey | |
| Patricia Kerfoot | Soroptimist |
| GILLIAN HORIGAN | Soroptimist International |
| Sheila Ince | Soroptimist International of Harrogate &District |
| Jennie Walker | St Austell & District Soroptimists |
| Harriet Mackie | |
| Dawn Childs | Women’s Engineering Society |
| Kate Prince | ZooNation |
| Janet Cooper | |
| Annie Rickard | |
| Nazneen Rawal | M.A.D.E. |
| Susannah Harlow | |
| Sue Lloyd | |
| Miranda McCabe | Labour Party member |