Gender Quotas Women and Elections

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Gender QuotasWomen and Elections
The National Democratic Institute
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INTRODUCTIONS/ GROUND RULES

• Introductions
• Ground rules
• Ice breaker
• exercise

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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

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GENDER QUOTA TOPICS

• History and rationale behind quotas
• Types of quotas
• Arguments for and against quotas
• Enforcement
• Addressing quality, environment

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KEY TERMS

• Gender quota
• Enabling environment

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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

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QUOTA HISTORY BEIJING PLATFORM FOR ACTION

• Gender equality in national assemblies
• Initial 33 quota
• States take action to substantially increase
  womens representation

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QUOTA RATIONALE

• Ensures critical mass of women in decision-making
  positions
• Prescribes minimum level of womens
  representation in political positions
• Puts burden on those in control of recruitment
  process

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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

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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

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TYPES OF QUOTAS CANDIDATE QUOTA

• Candidate Quotas

1. Man 1
2. Man 2
3. Man 3
4. Man 4
5. Man 5
6. Man 6
7. Man 7
8. Man 8
9. Man 9
10. Man 10

1. Man 1
2. Man 2
3. Woman 1
4. Man 3
5. Man 4
6. Woman 2
7. Man 5
8. Man 6
9. Woman 3
10. Man 7

1. Man 1
2. Woman 1
3. Man 2
4. Woman 2
5. Man 3
6. Woman 3
7. Man 4
8. Woman 4
9. Man 5
10. Woman 5

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EXAMPLE COSTA RICA

• 40 quota zipper system in lists
• Women elected to 22 of 57 seats
• Women are 39 of parliament

Photo Operation World
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VOLUNTARY PARTY QUOTAS

• Voluntary
• Dont interfere with internal party affairs
• Can be easier to pass than legislated quotas
• More difficult to enforce

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EXAMPLE SWEDEN

• Voluntary party quotas in 4 main parties
• 45 women in parliament (157 of 349)

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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

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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

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ARGUMENTS AGAINST QUOTAS

• Could limit womens participation
• Parties wont adopt inclusive candidate
• nomination processes
• Not enough women candidates
• Not enough skilled women candidates
• Candidate selection based on merit

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ARGUMENTS FOR QUOTAS

• Promotes equal representation
• Womens experiences will benefit political
  processes
• Critical mass will help more women get elected
• Women tend to cooperate, invest in community,
  support peace

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DO QUOTAS WORK?

• Placement and enforcement key factors
• Penalties and incentives
• Loopholes

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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

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STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORT/ IMPLEMENTATION

• Monitor compliance
• Cultivate strategies alliances with men
• Expand pool of skilled women candidates
• Regional/global sharing of experiences

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EXERCISE QUOTA STRATEGIES

• Break into groups
• Develop strategic plan
• Present to group

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GENDER QUOTAS REVIEW

• History and rationale behind quotas
• Types of quotas
• Arguments for and against quotas
• Enforcement
• Addressing quality, environment
• Questions?
• Feedback?