A breakthrough for women and politics in Mongolia

Let’s rewind to 2008. Mongolia’s Parliament had three women, representing less than 4% of the 76 seats. Despite Mongolia’s rich cultural history, where women have traditionally played central roles in family and community life, this stark underrepresentation in public office reflects the deeply ingrained gender biases. These biases have long shaped how society views women in leadership roles. In Mongolia, political power has historically been overwhelmingly male.

The 2023 UNDP Gender Social Norms Index reveals that 97% of Mongolians hold gender biases, with many believing that men make better political leaders than women. These outdated beliefs, rooted in patriarchal traditions, create significant barriers for women. They also restrict women’s access to leadership roles and limit their opportunities to participate fully in public decision-making and governance.

But things are starting to change, thanks in no small part to the efforts of women’s organizations on the ground, supported by the Equality Fund. Established in 2019 with a $300 million contribution from the Government of Canada, the Equality Fund has been crucial in advancing gender equality and women’s rights globally. In Mongolia, its grantee partner is MONFEMNET, a network of 21 national women’s organizations. Their mission is to promote human rights, social justice and gender equality across the country. With support from the Equality Fund, MONFEMNET partnered with Women for Change Mongolia and initiated an urgent “Equal Representation” impact campaign. They brought together over 2,500 activists and organizations to push for significant reforms to Mongolia’s electoral system. As a result of their efforts, 2023 saw the nomination quota for women candidates increase from 20% to 30%. It also saw the implementation of a zipper system, in which political parties are now required to alternate between male and female candidates.

A “steppe” in the right direction

Let’s fast forward now to the 2024 Mongolian parliamentary elections, which saw the most women candidates (519) and the largest number of women elected to Parliament. Today, 32 women sit in Parliament, making up nearly a quarter of the total seats. Mongolia now leads Asian countries in the number of women elected to office and nears the global average of 27%: a breakthrough achievement for women and politics!

The progress made so far is a testament to the power of collective action and the critical role of continued investment in women’s rights. With support from the Equality Fund, Mongolian women are making history and setting a powerful example for other countries striving for gender balance in politics. But the push for equal representation doesn’t end here. The gender quota goal for the 2028 elections is set at an ambitious 40%. The work continues to ensure that women’s voices are heard at every level of decision making. Although the fight is far from over, the path toward greater representation and equality for women in Mongolia has never been clearer.