Dansk Interparlamentarisk Gruppes bestyrelse 2024-25
IPU Alm.del Bilag 21
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Eleventh IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians
Uniting generations for gender equality
Lima, Peru, 11–13 September 2025
Outcome document
Co-Rapporteurs: Ms. Nour Abu Ghosh, Member of Parliament, Jordan, President of the IPU Bureau of
Young Parliamentarians; and Mr. Wilson Soto, Member of Parliament, Peru
Over 210 registered participants, including 120 parliamentarians from 44 countries, gathered in Lima from 11
to 13 September 2025 to reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, equity and parity, through inclusive,
intergenerational collaboration. The average age of the young parliamentarians was 34 years, and 50% of us
were women, reaching parity for the first time ever at this Conference. We were joined by representatives of
the Government of Peru, international organizations, civil society and experts, as well as Generation Equality
Forum leaders, and other women and youth leaders. We were also joined by the President of the Republic of
Peru, the President of the Council of Ministers of Peru, the President of the Congress of Peru, and the Vice-
President and Secretary General of the IPU. We warmly welcomed the participation of senior
parliamentarians and partners from the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) initiative.
The goal of gender equality, equity and parity is not new. It has spanned generations and remains a promise
to be fulfilled for the generations to come. We therefore examined it through an intergenerational lens. This
is timely: in 2025, the gender equality, equity and parity goal stands at a crossroads. Since the adoption in
1995 of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, progress has been made, yet in recent years it has
been slowing on many fronts, and in some cases has even regressed. Across the globe, women have two-
thirds the legal rights of men. True 50:50 gender parity is still far from reach: only 27.2% of parliamentarians
worldwide are women, and this proportion grew only 0.3 percentage points last year. For young women, the
situation is disturbingly worse: only 1.2% of
the world’s
MPs are women aged 30 and under, a decrease of
0.2 points since 2023.
Gender parity drives concrete change in the daily lives of half the population and for society as a whole. For
example, countries
with more women in politics pass more laws enhancing women’s economic rights,
boosting their economic participation and prospects.
At this Conference, we sounded the alarm: backsliding on the participation of women and youth in political
decision-making is real and addressing it urgently needs to be prioritized. We therefore express our support
for the
plan of action on gender parity in parliaments adopted at the Global Conference of Women
Parliamentarians
in March 2025 and its implementation, as well as the implementation of General
Recommendation No. 40 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
To get us there, we call for:
•
•
The mobilization of MPs
–
especially male MPs
–
through the
IPU’s new
Achieving gender equality,
action by action
campaign, with commitments matched by concrete, robust and results-oriented
action.
Constitutional and legal reforms to ensure that parity is not subject to political will but is codified in
law. This includes through the use of equity measures, such as context-specific parity quotas, which
also take into account youth and groups in marginalized or vulnerable situations, to ensure not only
formal equality but also substantive political representation. Parity also means the inclusion of all
diverse groups. In addition to passing laws, we call for the accompanying institutions, programmes,
budgets and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that they are implemented.
The opening up of more opportunities for young women and men to take up office, including by
lowering the age of eligibility to align with the voting age, capping campaign spending and providing
equitable campaign opportunities and resources to women and young candidates.
•
Simply electing more women is not enough, we must also ensure parity in political leadership and influence,
and apply equity criteria for access to the most influential committees, so that women and young people can
overcome the structural barriers that have historically limited them. Globally, only 23.7% of Speakers of
 IPU, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 21: Sluterklæring fra Conference of Young Parliamentarians 11.-13. september i Lima, Peru
Parliament are women, and women are underrepresented on influential parliamentary committees such as
defence, finance and foreign affairs. For young MPs, the imbalance is starker: only 10 Speakers are under
40, and just three of those are women.
To address this, we call for rules and mechanisms to institutionalize shared leadership between men and
women across age groups in key roles. Parity should not only apply to MPs, but also to Speakers, Bureau
members, Committees and delegations. This includes through the use of systems of rotation and dual
leadership.
To achieve gender parity and equitable representation of young people, parliaments also need to be
hospitable and safe work environments. We condemn the harassment and violence, including online, faced
by MPs of all ages, especially young women. Between 80% and 85% of women MPs surveyed worldwide
have experienced psychological violence during their parliamentary terms. This is even more common
among young MPs. The digital world is a double-edged sword: while offering new opportunities for
participation, it is also a space rife with online violence and disinformation. Young aspirants report being
afraid to enter politics for fear of reprisals. When new generations are too afraid to speak, democracy
suffers. To make parliaments more open and safer, we call for:
•
Parliaments that are gender- and age-sensitive institutions, implementing policies that promote
equity in working and caregiving conditions, so that no one has to choose between starting a family
or serving as an MP. This begins by conducting a self-assessment to identify gaps and plan reforms.
Openness for young people must also be assessed, including facilities, working conditions and
institutional culture. Parliaments should have family-friendly working conditions, parental leave, and
voting systems that can allow young people to succeed in their jobs.
Parliaments to be exemplars in addressing harmful social norms, by ensuring the use of non-sexist
and inclusive language in official documents, including standing orders, and by communicating
about MPs’ roles and work in ways that are age and gender sensitive.
Parliaments to enforce zero-tolerance policies for sexism, harassment and violence, so that MPs
and staff can work in safety. Policies should include robust internal reporting mechanisms, gender-
responsive and survivor-centred support services, legal assistance and accountability provisions.
Adopting legislation, or strengthening existing laws, to counter online violence against MPs,
including gender-based violence, and to hold perpetrators to account. We also call for greater
oversight and accountability of technology firms to ensure that platforms are responsible and
transparent, and to enhance and improve the enforcement of their trust and safety policies. Online
safety should not be seen as a threat to freedom of expression.
•
•
•
Social and legal norms have evolved over time. For years, the trajectory for growing gender equality seemed
inevitable, but today, we are confronted with generational headwinds. In many countries there is evidence of
backlash, especially from young men. Sustainable transformation requires inter-generational cooperation
and solidarity. In a special WYDE segment at the Conference, we were joined by more senior MPs to
unpack generational trends, examine changing social norms, and share perspectives on coordinating action.
The result was a united front to bolster progress on gender equality, equity and parity, ensuring that new
generations can consolidate sustainable change for the future. To sustain momentum, we call for:
•
More intergenerational collaboration and mentorship in parliaments and political parties, including for
reciprocal transfer of knowledge and skills, especially on issues relating to gender equality, equity
and parity. This includes capacity-building for young MPs in leadership and communications,
especially for young women.
Inclusion of both younger and older MPs, including male MPs, in key bodies addressing gender
equality, such as related committees and caucuses. The inclusion of male MPs is also valuable in
dispelling the myth that women’s empowerment is a threat.
Greater promotion of intergenerational champions and platforms to share good practices to inspire
further action and collaboration, including serving as role models to counter harmful social norms for
women in politics.
•
•
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 IPU, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 21: Sluterklæring fra Conference of Young Parliamentarians 11.-13. september i Lima, Peru
In a continuation of our emphasis on the power of partnerships, civil society leaders, Generation Equality
Forum representatives and partners from the WYDE community joined us. We co-developed proposals for
actions to take cooperation to the next level, including:
•
Strengthening collaboration with civil society, particularly youth-led
and women’s rights
organizations, to share knowledge, harness diverse voices and monitor progress. This can include
engagement with youth parliaments, and in official parliamentary processes (such as committees,
public hearings, etc.).
Directly engaging young men and women in their own spaces, such as universities, social media,
and public forums, to raise awareness and bring their perspectives into policymaking. Youth and
gender caucuses are powerful bodies for this work.
Promoting civic education for youth, as well as training in leadership and communication to unleash
their ability to contribute to political life and sustain youth power.
•
•
Here in Lima, we committed to fight for equality, implement equity measures and consolidate gender parity.
United across generations and stakeholders, we will turn the tide, ensure that the promises of equality are
kept, and fight for democracies where the voice of all rings out and none are left behind.
We thank the Congress of the Republic of Peru for hosting this Conference and for making this global
moment of solidarity and recommitment possible.
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