The “We Women” Forum opened, at the State Palace in Mongolia. The event brought together officials from the State Great Khural, the United Nations, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This forum focused on boosting women’s political representation, a key priority in Mongolia’s ongoing political reforms.
Amarbayasgalan Dashzegve, Speaker of the State Great Khural, gave the opening remarks. He highlighted last year’s amendments to the Law on Parliamentary Elections. Specifically, the law now requires political parties to have at least 30 percent women on their candidate lists. Moreover, at least 50 percent of candidates in constituencies must be women. As a result, 38.7 percent of the 1,341 candidates in the 2024 Parliamentary Election were women—a historic high for Mongolia. The election also resulted in 32 women being elected to Parliament, which makes up 25.4 percent of the seats.
Furthermore, Deputy Speaker Bulgantuya Khurelbaatar emphasized the need to improve women’s representation in local government. While women make up a smaller percentage in Citizens’ Representative Khurals than in Parliament, the figures improve at the soum and district levels by three percent. However, very few women have earned leadership positions in local bodies. Currently, only the Citizens’ Representative Khurals of Darkhan-Uul and Uvurkhangai aimags have women chairs. She stressed that the “We Women” Program will continue in a systematic manner, tailored to the needs of each region. This will help build stronger connections between women deputies and members of Parliament. Consequently, women will gain a greater role in local policymaking.
Moreover, Choi Jin-won, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Mongolia, praised the UN Development Programme’s project on gender equality. Funded by KOICA, this initiative has sparked important policy and social reforms. He noted that women’s political representation now stands at 25.4 percent in Mongolia’s Parliament—higher than in neighboring countries, including the Republic of Korea. Beyond numbers, he highlighted that citizens are already feeling the positive impact of increased women’s representation in decision-making.
In conclusion, the “We Women” Forum underlines Mongolia’s commitment to boosting women’s political representation at all levels. This event serves as a platform for sharing strategies and encouraging continued progress. With legal reforms and targeted programs, the country aims to empower women leaders and create a more inclusive political landscape. Ultimately, boosting women’s political representation benefits society as a whole by bringing diverse voices to the table.
