Founded in 1889, the IPU has traditionally reflected in its ranks the low proportion and visibility of women in national politics. Disgruntled that they were unable to have an impact on its programmes and policies, a small but active group of women took the initiative to set up a women's caucus in IPU in 1978. Up until 1983, meetings of women MPs were held occasionally during IPU's statutory sessions, taking the form either of meetings proper, a luncheon or a gathering over tea. In 1983, the women MPs voiced the possibility of establishing an autonomous association under the auspices of the IPU: after thorough analysis, an option in favour of mainstreaming was made in the belief that women's interests would be better served if they got together at each IPU Conference to determine the means through which they could exert an influence on the policies, working and decisions of the organization. Since 1986, a whole day session is held on the eve of the IPU Conference, so that women MPs may decide on strategies in advance in order to make known their views and concerns during the session. In April 1990, the role, objectives and working methods of the Meetings of Women MPs were formally set out in a document and a permanent structure to co-ordinate activities and ensure continuity was established. Held under the chairmanship of a woman MP from the host country, the Meeting was formally opened in the presence of the highest governmental and parliamentary authorities of that country. Technical support has been officially provided by the IPU Secretariat since 1985.

Stated Aims

The Meeting of Women MPs aims to:

• Promote an increase in the number of women MPs as delegates to Inter-Parliamentary Meetings.
  
• Promote greater participation of women MPs in all senior posts of the Union.
  
• Allow women to learn more about the status of women in their own and other regions and about strategies or mechanisms developed by other countries to meet the concerns of women.
  
• Establish contact with other women MPs whether or not they participate in IPU meetings.
  
• Pre-study items on the agenda of each of the IPU Conferences from the perspective of women legislators in order to develop strategies to make their delegations receptive to their concerns and to promote their objectives in the plenary sittings of the Conference and Committees.
  
• Identify suitable subjects for study by the Inter-Parliamentary Conference.

Achievements with Regard to the Status of Women

• Increased gender sensitivity within the IPU which has made it possible to develop a sustained programme on women's issues, centred particularly on women's political participation and comprising a series of world comparative surveys (both statistical and substantial), a series of specialized meetings and comprehensive strategies to remedy the current gender imbalance with regard to political participation.
  
• Awareness that women's low political integration is a major cause of democratic deficit world-wide.
  
• Advocacy of the principle of equality between men and women, coupled with an acknowledgement of their differences and complementarity.
  
• Promotion of partnership between men and women as an avenue to reach a more democratic form of government and a more democratic society at large.
  
• Action to eradicate violence against women.
  
• Generating awareness of the impact of the media on the status of women and the public image of women politicians.

Achievements with Regard to IPU's Structure
and Functioning