See also Map of Women in Politics 2005 , prepared as a collaboration between IPU and the Division for the Advancement of Women and IPU, The participation of women and men in decision making the parliamentary dimension , background paper prepared by IPU for the Expert Group Meeting on Equal participation of women and men in decision making processes, with particular emphasis on political participation and leadership (EGM EPWD 2005 BP.1), Addis Ababa, 24 27 October 2005.

In his cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, five female ministers were appointed, but in the face of strong opposition from male MPs. More important, the appointments amounted to painting over the cracks Only 39 of the 480 members of the Japanese Diet s lower house, or 7.9 , are women.

The committee, which I head, deliberated over three weeks of hearings, summoning senior representatives from the foreign and home ministries, as well as the government of the most affected state, West Bengal. On December 7, we unanimously recommended that the parliament ratify the constitutional amendment.

According to the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), that election pushed South Korea from 101st to 62nd place worldwide in terms of the proportion of female MPs , well ahead of 121st ranked Japan. The increase in women MPs led not only to an increase in female cabinet members, but also to a variety of policies and institutional improvements aimed specifically at women.