Veteran politician Aleke Banda has said the country needs to consider changing the present electoral system to adopt a mechanism where 50/50 representation of women and men in decision making positions can be attained.
Candidatures for the "PACE Gender Equality Prize" may now be submitted until 1 June 2009, following extension of the deadline by the Committee.
Women candidates are facing an uphill struggle in Saturday's provincial elections in strongly conservative Muslim Iraq.
Under pressure from the women groups and activists, the Electoral Commission, or KPU, has proposed to issue its own regulation enabling a quota system to ensure that one in every three elected lawmakers — as opposed to candidates — be a woman, since hopes that the government might issue an emerge
Tongan women lobbying for a greater voice in Parliament want a quota of 30 percent political representation. A group of more than 50 women has begun a concerted campaign to gather support for a quota under the new system of government being developed for 2010.
The memorandum, supported by 12 non-governmental organizations, called for an amendment to the Parliamentary Standing Orders and other corresponding rules in the state assemblies by including a prohibition against sexist remarks and unparliamentary behavior as well as to suspend without pay those
Iraqi law requires that about 25 percent of the 444 seats on the 14 new provincial councils go to women — even if it means giving a position to female candidates who didn't win as many votes as some men in the Jan. 31 balloting.
The National Gender Machinery launched its 50/50 national campaign, which aims to increase equal representation of women in decision-making positions, on Thursday.
In an extraordinary session, the Kurdish regional parliament has increased the share of seats allocated to female representatives to 30 percent. The previous quota was 25 percent.