Author : Encinas-Franco, Jean; Laguna, Elma

Summary : Local and international mandates have greatly facilitated gender equality legislation and programs, a key reform measure that has been missed is overcoming barriers to women's political participation. A key puzzle is that Filipino women have historically been either at par or have a higher voter turnout than men. However, they have faced obstacles in electoral politics. This policy brief aims to (1) present the situation on women's representation in electoral politics; (2) point out significant barriers to women's entry into electoral politics; and (3) recommend key policy directions and ways forward to address persistent issues.