History is made in Colombia with gains in diversity led by feminist movements
Source: Inter-parliamentary Union
Elections in Colombia saw a political shift in 2022, and the greatest gains in terms of women’s representation in the Americas. The new government includes Francia Márquez, the country’s first Afro-Colombian vice-president and only the second woman to hold this position. Women now hold 29.6% of the seats in the upper house (+8.3 percentage points) and 28.9% in the lower house (+10.2 percentage points). This jump in women’s representation in both chambers was reflected in the country’s Indigenous and Afro-descendant constituencies, and brings Colombia in line with the South American subregional average of 28.9%. The increase can be attributed to several factors. Some 1,112 women were registered as candidates and women’s candidacies exceeded 40% of the total (6 percentage points more than in 2018). A feminist party also contested the 2022 elections for the very first time. Known as Estamos Listos (“We Are Ready”), it received over 100,000 votes and raised awareness despite limited campaign resources.
Despite these positive gains, similar rates of success did not translate to women in conflict-affected zones. Only three women won seats in the Special Transitory Constituencies for Peace (CITREP) – constituencies in territories that were marginalized during five decades of civil war and have been granted 16 extra parliamentary seats as part of the 2016 peace agreement.
Click here to read the full article published by the Inter-parliamentary Union on 27 February 2023.
Elections in Colombia saw a political shift in 2022, and the greatest gains in terms of women’s representation in the Americas. The new government includes Francia Márquez, the country’s first Afro-Colombian vice-president and only the second woman to hold this position. Women now hold 29.6% of the seats in the upper house (+8.3 percentage points) and 28.9% in the lower house (+10.2 percentage points). This jump in women’s representation in both chambers was reflected in the country’s Indigenous and Afro-descendant constituencies, and brings Colombia in line with the South American subregional average of 28.9%. The increase can be attributed to several factors. Some 1,112 women were registered as candidates and women’s candidacies exceeded 40% of the total (6 percentage points more than in 2018). A feminist party also contested the 2022 elections for the very first time. Known as Estamos Listos (“We Are Ready”), it received over 100,000 votes and raised awareness despite limited campaign resources.
Despite these positive gains, similar rates of success did not translate to women in conflict-affected zones. Only three women won seats in the Special Transitory Constituencies for Peace (CITREP) – constituencies in territories that were marginalized during five decades of civil war and have been granted 16 extra parliamentary seats as part of the 2016 peace agreement.
Click here to read the full article published by the Inter-parliamentary Union on 27 February 2023.
