UN Women urges stronger action on women’s political leadership

UN Women yesterday (3) launched a new report “Beyond Numbers” examining the impact and lessons of Sri Lanka's 25 per cent local government quota, bringing together government representatives, political actors, women leaders, civil society, development partners and the United Nations to discuss the future of women's political participation and leadership in Sri Lanka.

Launched at a strategic dialogue convened by UN Women Sri Lanka, the report brought together government representatives, political actors, women leaders, civil society, development partners, academia and the United Nations to reflect on the future of women's political participation and leadership in Sri Lanka.

The launch comes at an important moment for the country. Recent elections have brought notable gains in women's representation and visibility in political office, including an increase in the number of women elected to Parliament. While these developments signal progress, women continue to face barriers at multiple stages of political participation, including party gatekeeping, limited access to campaign resources and political networks, unequal opportunities for leadership within party structures, harassment and violence, and persistent social norms that question women's legitimacy as political leaders.

The report highlights the significance of the 25 per cent quota for women's seats in local government, which increased women's representation in local authorities from approximately 2 per cent to nearly 23 per cent. Beyond increasing numbers, the quota provides important lessons on what enables women to enter political institutions, the extent to which greater representation translates into influence, and where structural barriers continue to impede women's leadership and participation.

"While increasing representation is important, the next challenge is ensuring that representation translates into meaningful participation, influence and leadership," said Ramaaya Salgado, Head of Office, UN Women Sri Lanka. "The experiences of women who entered local government through the quota offer valuable insights into what works, what continues to limit women's political participation, and what reforms are needed to create a more inclusive political landscape."

Discussions during the dialogue explored the relationship between representation, influence and political leadership; the implications of the quota experience for future reforms at provincial and national levels; and the institutional, political and social changes needed to strengthen pathways for women's leadership. Participants also examined issues related to nomination processes, campaign financing, leadership progression, safety, accountability and the broader enabling environment for women in politics.

The dialogue further underscored the importance of ensuring that efforts to strengthen political participation are inclusive and responsive to the experiences of women facing multiple and intersecting forms of exclusion, including women from minority communities, women with disabilities, young women, rural women, women affected by conflict, and women outside established political networks.

The event forms part of UN Women's ongoing support to evidence-based policymaking, inclusive governance and women's leadership in Sri Lanka. Findings from the report and recommendations emerging from the dialogue will contribute to future policy engagement, advocacy, programming and partnerships aimed at advancing women's political participation and leadership, and ensuring that increased representation translates into meaningful influence and lasting change.