 |
WOMEN & POLITICS/INTRO
source: archive.idea.int/women/
parl/foreward.htm
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/Review/
documents/statements/IPU_Beyond
_Beijing
_2005.pdf
unstats.un.org/unsd/mi/
mi_coverfinal.htm
|
|
The seed of democracy lies in the principle that the legitimacy of the power to make decisions about peoples' lives, their society and their country should derive from a choice by those who will be affected… - for many centuries the basis of this legitimacy was limited and many were excluded from making a choice: slaves, those without property or formal education, those not ‘civilised’ or not part of the dominant culture or religion in society, people of a particular racial or ethnic group, indigenous peoples of countries conquered and annexed through superior weaponry, and overwhelmingly, women;
- the franchise was won through struggles within societies, and the right to self-determination of subject peoples through anti-colonial and liberation struggles in many countries. Today most of those previously excluded have won the right to both choose and be members of institutions of governance. Universal franchise in free and fair elections has become recognised as a minimum standard for democratic societies;
- however, in new and established democracies alike, it has become clear that universal suffrage did not in itself lead to the establishment of representative legislatures. Many sections of the population continued to be excluded, mainly the rural poor and the least educated, and still, women. Overall, the proportion of women in legislatures is exceedingly low. The question is why and does it matter? Why should it matter; what difference does it make whether women are in legislatures and other institutions of governance or not?
Throughout the world women face obstacles to their participation in politics… - while women’s dedicated efforts to challenge the status quo have allowed more women to reach positions of power in recent years, women continue to be under-represented in all areas of decision-making, such as religion, the media, culture and the law;
- women still face significant barriers to their full and equal participation in the structures and institutions which govern their lives. While the political playing-field in each country has its own particular characteristics, one feature remains common to all: it is uneven and not conducive to women's participation;
- women who want to enter politics find that the political, public, cultural and social environment are often unfriendly or even hostile to them. Even a quick glance at the current composition of political decision-makers in any region provides evidence that women still face numerous obstacles in articulating and shaping their own interests;
- in 2005, the rate of female representation stands at nearly 16% globally. Although this figure has increased in recent years, minimal progress means that the ideal of parity still remains distant (only Rwanda and the Nordic countries have come close to parity).
- and, as of 1 January 2005, only 17 countries had met the target of at least 30% representation by women in parliament. By the end of 2004, 81 countries had adopted some form of affirmative action, such as party quotas or reserving seats for women in parliament to ensure their political participation;
- one encouraging development is the fact that a number of post-conflict countries have highlighted and addressed the importance of including women in reconstruction processes, and of their participation in new democratic institutions. As a result, Rwanda, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Timor-Leste, Uganda and Eritrea - appear in the top 30 countries with regard to women’s participation in legislative bodies, averaging between 25 and 30% of women legislators.
|
