Legislative Quotas for Women: A global and ... - Aurat Foundation

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2 The QuotasAs already stated in the previous chapter the implementation of genderquotas is being increasingly viewed as an important policy measure forincreasing women’s access to decision-making bodies especially theparliaments. The introduction of gender quota systems is highlyinfluenced by recommendations from international organizations andcross-country inspiration. In 1995, the Beijing Platform for Action calledon governments to take measures to ensure women’s equal access to, andfull participation in, power structures and decision-making bodies, and toset specific targets and implement measures to increase substantially thenumber of women, through positive action, among other means. 17We have also seen a clear consensus among comparative studies on therepresentation of women in parliament that quotas that signified a shift inpublic equality policy, from “equal opportunities” to “equality of resultshave been making a positive impact on the numbers of womenrepresented.Arguments against and in favour of the quota systemVarious arguments have been advanced for and against the introductionof quotas as a means to increase the political presence of women.However the arguments in favour of quotas outweigh the argumentsagainst quota systems. Hence more and more countries of the world areadopting quota systems most suited to their realities.Arguments against the quota systemThose who oppose quota systems argue that quotas are against theprinciple of equal opportunity for all. Since in these systems womenare given preference over men, as such they are undemocratic.Quotas are also called undemocratic, as they take away voters’ rightto decide who is elected.17 International IDEA, Stockholm, 200317
It is also argued that quotas imply that politicians are elected becauseof their gender and not because of their qualifications; and in this waymore qualified candidates are pushed aside. Thus quotas violate theprinciples of liberal democracy.One argument against this system is that introducing quotas createssignificant conflicts within the party organizations.But the experience of many last decades shows that quotas are themost effective means to make democracies more representative.Arguments in favour of the quota systemArguments in favour of quota system are more convincing than theones against it. Proponents of the quota system argue that quotas forwomen do not discriminate, but compensate for actual barriers thatprevent women from their fair share of the political seats.They say that quotas imply that there are several women together in acommittee or assembly, thus minimizing the stress often experiencedby the token women. It is also argued that quotas are justified aswomen as citizens have the right to equal representation.Another argument is that women have their own distinct experiencesand those experiences are needed in political life.In response to the arguments that women are generally less qualifiedand experienced in politics it is stated that election is aboutrepresentation and not educational qualifications.In response to the objection that quotas are undemocratic, becausevoters do not decide who is elected, it is argued that in actual practicethe political parties control the nominations and they are not primarilythe voters who decide who gets elected; therefore quotas are notviolations of voters' rights.It is now almost universally acknowledged that if properlyimplemented, quotas are an effective means of fast tracking women’saccess to decision-making bodies. In India, analysts have18
Page 2 and 3: Legislative Quotasfor WomenA Global
Page 4: Table of ContentsNo. Content Page12
Page 7: For some experts, types of electora
Page 10 and 11: in and its impact on political deci
Page 13 and 14: The Beijing Platform for Action, ad
Page 15 and 16: it is argued, compensatory measures
Page 20 and 21: acknowledged that the quota brought
Page 22 and 23: Gender quotas around the world 20Th
Page 24 and 25: Usually, this model has guaranteed
Page 26 and 27: Political Party Quotas are rules or
Page 28 and 29: 3 Reserved seats in PakistanHistori
Page 30 and 31: assemblies serving as electoral col
Page 32 and 33: elected in 1997; 2.4 in the Senate
Page 34 and 35: Ministry of Women’s Development o
Page 36: In the second general elections hel
Page 39 and 40: AfghanistanAfghanistan’s National
Page 41 and 42: legislation by the Parliament. The
Page 43 and 44: “Nothing in the world is perfect,
Page 45 and 46: Sri LankaSri Lanka’s unicameral H
Page 47 and 48: Quantum of representationThe women
Page 49 and 50: legitimacy of the system in its obs

Legislative Quotas for Women: A global and ... - Aurat Foundation

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