Women's Participation in Policy Making: Challenges and Solutions
Discover the global statistics on women's underrepresentation in policy-making roles and the factors contributing to this disparity. Explore the importance of increased women's participation in decision-making bodies and the benefits it brings to governance and development. Learn about the existing gender gaps in political representation and the need to address them for a more inclusive society.
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WOMENS PARTICIPATION IN POLICY MAKING By MARY ONGORE
Women are underrepresented both asvotersandin leading positions. Women represent 24.3% of all national parliaments globally. (Inter-Parliamentary Union). As of January 2019, only 11 women serving as heads of state world wide. There is only1 female head of stateinAfrica. (UNWomen) These figures are indicative of a poor trend globally as women represent approximately 50% of the population world wide.(World Bank2017) Only 3countries have more than 50% in parliament (Inter-ParliamentaryUnion).
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENS AND WOMEN S EXPERIENCES Women more vulnerable to physical and sexual violence Women s political representation lags behind that of men Women have different economic opportunities Women play different roles in the family and form a huge part of the unpaid care economy Women form the majority of the world s poor Women are more prone to fall victim to people trafficking and to the sex trade
RATIONALE FOR THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING BODIES Justice Argument Experience Argument Interest Argument Critical Mass Argument Symbolic Argument Democracy Argument
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN INVESTIGATING WOMEN S REPRESENTATION IN POLITICS A distinction needs to be made between descriptive or numerical representation and substantive representation. Descriptive representation is concerned with women representing themselves on issues that concern them. Substantive representation looks at the advancement of women s interests regardless of the gender of the representative.
BENEFITS OF INCREASED WOMENS REPRESENTATION Women representative s are deemed to be less corrupt and bring a level of credibility to governance. Women s presence in politics has proven to be important in the formulation of development policies. Women s involvement in the development in peace building policies in post- conflict environments has significant benefits.
WOMENS REPRESENTATION CASE STUDIES FROM AFRICA WORLD CLASSIFICATION*(IPU 2019) Rank in the World Country Lower or single House Upper House or Senate Elections Seats* Women % W Elections Seats* Women % W 03.09.2018 80 49 61.3% 26.09.2011 26 10 38.5% 1 Rwanda 29.11.2014 104 48 46.2% 08.12.2015 42 10 23.8% 7 Namibia 07.05.2014 393 168 42.7% 21.05.2014 54 19 35.2% 10 South Africa 30.07.2017 165 69 41.8% --- --- --- --- 11 Senegal 15.10.2014 250 99 39.6% --- --- --- --- 17 Mozambique 08.07.2017 349 76 21.8% 08.07.2017 68 21 30.9% 91 Kenya
THE KENYAN STORY WOMEN IN POLITICS 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% Parliament 15.00% Senate 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 1997 2002 2007 2013 2017
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM AFRICA Rwanda Constitution amended to mandate seat reservation. Electoral law also amended to create a quota system. Namibia Proportional representation electoral system. Informal quotas also adopted by political parties at the national level. Alternation between men and women (zebra-system) on electoral lists also implemented. South Africa Proportional representation electoral system alongside adoption of gender quotas by the ruling party and a few other parties. Senegal Amendment to electoral law enacted in June 2010. Legislated candidate quotas introduced with parties that do not comply with electoral law being denied admission. Additionally, alteration between males and females on electoral lists mandated. Mozambique Proportional representation together with the adoption of informal quotas by political parties.
Types of Quotas Political party quotas Reserved seats Legal candidate quotas
Advantages of quota systems: It is much easier to achieve than changing the political culture Elected women serve as role models for other women Political parties are engaged in the election of women Disadvantages of quota systems: Quotas viewed as discriminatory against men There is the attitude that women elected are under qualified Enacting legislation that makes quotas mandatory is difficult to pass
The End!! E-mail: mary.ongore@gmail.com
