Local Election gender quotas not sufficient for fair representation of women in politics
Source: Westmeath Examiner
Women for Election are calling for gender quotas for the next local elections as part of the Gender Quota Alliance today, Tuesday September 24.
Katie Deegan, from Women for Election, highlighted that the exclusion of women from the political sphere leads to a lack of fair representation of society.
Deegan said: “Gender balance in local government isn’t just a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of better decision-making. Democracy functions better when it represents everyone it serves and when there is a balance of men and women involved.”
Ireland is now 22 out of the EU 27 countries in regard to gender balance in politics.
“The stagnation in the number of women Councillors elected in the recent local elections, at just 26% means that new radical measures are needed so that we don’t have to wait another three decades for even 40% women in local government.
"Our democracy is neither healthy nor sustainable if we exclude the voices and experiences of half of the population," Deegan said.
Read here the full interview published by the Westmeath Examiner on 24 September 2024.
Image credits: Westmeath Examiner
Women for Election are calling for gender quotas for the next local elections as part of the Gender Quota Alliance today, Tuesday September 24.
Katie Deegan, from Women for Election, highlighted that the exclusion of women from the political sphere leads to a lack of fair representation of society.
Deegan said: “Gender balance in local government isn’t just a matter of fairness; it’s a matter of better decision-making. Democracy functions better when it represents everyone it serves and when there is a balance of men and women involved.”
Ireland is now 22 out of the EU 27 countries in regard to gender balance in politics.
“The stagnation in the number of women Councillors elected in the recent local elections, at just 26% means that new radical measures are needed so that we don’t have to wait another three decades for even 40% women in local government.
"Our democracy is neither healthy nor sustainable if we exclude the voices and experiences of half of the population," Deegan said.
Read here the full interview published by the Westmeath Examiner on 24 September 2024.
Image credits: Westmeath Examiner