Note for Equality Nº33: Women in local government in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2023

Despite women’s increased engagement in public life, parity democracy, including gender parity in elected and government positions, is far from being achieved, both at national and local levels of government. Gaps remain because of structural challenges that reinforce discriminatory norms, practices and policies and perpetuate power dynamics. Latin America and the Caribbean region is not an exception. It remains a challenge to “ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life” in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 5.5.