1 / 23

Gender Quotas Women and Elections

Gender Quotas Women and Elections. The National Democratic Institute. INTRODUCTIONS/ GROUND RULES. Introductions Ground rules Ice breaker exercise. GENDER QUOTA OBJECTIVES. To understand the types of quotas To increase awareness of the reasons for/arguments against quotas

honey
Download Presentation

Gender Quotas Women and Elections

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Gender QuotasWomen and Elections The National Democratic Institute

  2. INTRODUCTIONS/ GROUND RULES • Introductions • Ground rules • Ice breaker • exercise

  3. GENDER QUOTA OBJECTIVES • To understand the types of quotas • To increase awareness of the reasons for/arguments against quotas • To share strategies for addressing the larger context

  4. GENDER QUOTA TOPICS • History and rationale behind quotas • Types of quotas • Arguments for and against quotas • Enforcement • Addressing quality, environment

  5. KEY TERMS • Gender quota • Enabling environment

  6. QUOTA HISTORY: CEDAW • “take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life” • “ensure” that women are “on equal terms with men” in running for office at all levels and participating in civic life

  7. QUOTA HISTORY: BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION • Gender equality in national assemblies • Initial 33% quota • States take action to substantially increase women’s representation

  8. QUOTA RATIONALE • Ensures critical mass of women in decision-making positions • Prescribes minimum level of women’s representation in political positions • Puts burden on those in control of recruitment process

  9. TYPES OF QUOTAS: RESERVED SEATS • Number or percentage of seats reserved for women • Three ways to implement: • Win a competitive election • Win a competitive election in which women only compete with other women • Appointed by the government

  10. EXAMPLE: UGANDA • Constitution mandates one woman representative per district • 112 districts • Other special groups must include 1 woman • Women are 35% of parliament • 135 of 386 total

  11. TYPES OF QUOTAS: CANDIDATE QUOTA • Candidate Quotas • Man 1 • Man 2 • Man 3 • Man 4 • Man 5 • Man 6 • Man 7 • Man 8 • Man 9 • Man 10 • Man 1 • Man 2 • Woman 1 • Man 3 • Man 4 • Woman 2 • Man 5 • Man 6 • Woman 3 • Man 7 • Man 1 • Woman 1 • Man 2 • Woman 2 • Man 3 • Woman 3 • Man 4 • Woman 4 • Man 5 • Woman 5

  12. EXAMPLE: COSTA RICA • 40% quota – zipper system in lists • Women elected to 22 of 57 seats • Women are 39% of parliament Photo: Operation World

  13. VOLUNTARY PARTY QUOTAS • Voluntary • Don’t interfere with internal party affairs • Can be easier to pass than legislated quotas • More difficult to enforce

  14. EXAMPLE: SWEDEN • Voluntary party quotas in 4 main parties • 45% women in parliament (157 of 349)

  15. OTHER GENDER QUOTAS • Parliament • Government Ministers • Commissions and Committee Membership • Municipal Councils • Electoral boards and commission • Other decision making bodies at all levels of government • Corporate Boards

  16. USING GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE • Can help ease tensions • Example: • instead of saying “20% of seats for women”, law could say • “no less than 20% of seats can go to members of a single gender”

  17. ARGUMENTS AGAINST QUOTAS • Could limit women’s participation • Parties won’t adopt inclusive candidate nomination processes • Not enough women candidates • Not enough skilled women candidates • Candidate selection based on merit

  18. ARGUMENTS FOR QUOTAS • Promotes equal representation • Women’s experiences will benefit political processes • Critical mass will help more women get elected • Women tend to cooperate, invest in community, support peace

  19. DO QUOTAS WORK? • Placement and enforcement key factors • Penalties and incentives • Loopholes

  20. STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORT/ IMPLEMENTATION • Galvanize political party support for candidate quotas and formalize in party statutes • Establish guidelines for candidate recruitment and party nomination committees • Ensure implementation and placement in winnable positions

  21. STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORT/ IMPLEMENTATION • Monitor compliance • Cultivate strategies alliances with men • Expand pool of skilled women candidates • Regional/global sharing of experiences

  22. EXERCISE: QUOTA STRATEGIES • Break into groups • Develop strategic plan • Present to group

  23. GENDER QUOTAS REVIEW • History and rationale behind quotas • Types of quotas • Arguments for and against quotas • Enforcement • Addressing quality, environment • Questions? • Feedback?

More Related