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17 March, 10:00–12:00
Palazzo Strozzi, aula Pollaiolo
Public lecture “The international norm of gender-sensitive parliaments in times of democratic backsliding and anti-gender actors”
Petra Ahrens, Tampere University
Over recent decades, international organizations have promoted the international norm of gender-
sensitive parliaments (GSPs) to strengthen democratic quality by addressing inequalities in political
representation and participation, policy-making, and parliaments as workplaces. Yet, many
democracies face growing polarization around and opposition to gender equality and LGBTIQ+ rights,
raising questions about how such a norm can be effectively implemented. Drawing on selected cases,
I examine how the GSP norm is and could be interpreted and contested, focusing on tensions around
equality and inclusion, political and administrative neutrality claims, and institutional and party
pressures, highlighting both prospects and challenges for more inclusive democratic parliaments.