2010 was an important year for gender equality. Countries embarked on an exercise to examine implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 15 years after they were adopted as well as the Millennium Development Goals. In both cases, it is clear that several difficulties still have to be overcome and the full commitment of all stakeholders, including parliaments, remains crucial.

These two major issues were at the heart of discussions and exchanges at the IPU and in many national parliaments. Recently, parliamentarians from Togo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) took stock of progress made in their countries in terms of gender equality. They reflected on implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. That exercise allowed them to identify priorities for policy and existing or required legislation.

It is clear that women's representation in politics, inter alia, which stands at 8 per cent of MPs in DR Congo and 11 per cent in Togo, must be enhanced. The key measures identified consist of adopting special temporary measures and sensitizing the population to the importance of women's participation. Such sensitization activities and the need for decision-makers to bring about a change in mentality apparently remain critical both for women's participation in politics and for the education of young girls, the elimination of violence against women and the reform of family- and labour-related legislative frameworks.

At a retreat in Togo organized by the Togolese National Assembly and the IPU, men and women parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and government and civil society representatives discussed priority actions to enhance gender equality. They adopted a plan of action centred on three main objectives that are articulated in the following slogans:

• At least 30 per cent of women in politics!
• Girls and boys: equal chances for education at all levels!
• Review of the Family Code!

To achieve these objectives, the participants identified a series of measures to be implemented, including advocacy activities, questioning relevant government bodies and moving ahead with a review of legislation with a view to weeding out discriminatory provisions from the Family Code.