ensuring women s freedom to participate in politics both as voters and as representatives has been central to international regional and national efforts aimed at more inclusive and democratic governance these freedoms and rights are not limited to politics but extend to participation and leadership in public life the private sector and civil society in general it recognizes that women s empowerment and full participation on an equal basis with men in all spheres of life including participation in the decisionmaking process and access to power are fundamental to the achievement of equality development and peace in addition to setting out government commitments the platform for action urges a range of actors to take measures in support of women s participation in all levels of power and decisionmaking these include political parties the private sector trade unions national regional and subregional bodies employers organizations research and academic institutions and nongovernmental organizations this chapter provides an assessment of the current situation as well as recent trends in the participation of women and men in positions of power and decisionmaking across the world