Representatives attend the 2012 International Women's Leadership Forum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on July 8, 2012. The 2012 International Women's Leadership Forum opened here on Sunday to develop a common understanding on the importance of women's participation in political and economic spheres. (Photo Credit: Xinhua/Shi Yongchun)

July 8, 2012 (TSR) – The 2012 International Women’s Leadership Forum convened in Mongolia on Sunday to develop a common understanding on the importance of women’s participation in political and economic spheres.

Mongolia hosted over 100 women leaders from governments, private businesses, academia, civic organizations and other fields who attended the forum to study ways and best practices to expand women’s access to political and economic arenas around the world.

Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold addressed the forum and said the Mongolian government will double its support for women who are going to participate in political and economic activities.

Representatives attend the 2012 International Women's Leadership Forum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on July 8, 2012. The 2012 International Women's Leadership Forum opened here on Sunday to develop a common understanding on the importance of women's participation in political and economic spheres. (Photo Credit: Xinhua/Shi Yongchun)

“Women are more vulnerable to economic crises and unemployment in Mongolia, and there are many single mothers who struggle to sustain their families and children.

Batbold stressed the government needs to do more to train women in business so that they can become more resilient.

According to a report provided by the organizers, gender imbalance widely exists in political and economic spheres in both developing and developed countries.

A lack of gender balance in decision-making in government persists, and women continue to be under-represented in national parliaments with an average of only 17 percent of seats occupied by women around the world, shows the report.

Over the last three decades, women’s participation in the labor force market has increased, yet in both developing and developed countries wage differences between salaried men and women have been extensively documented, says the report.

Many international female leaders including former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell and former Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva attended the forum, which will conclude on Monday.

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