Why are women MPs silent on quota

As is known, in Armenia they continue discussions on the draft of the new Electoral Code, and although representatives of civil society and the opposition say in advance that we should not expect significant changes in the project, however hope dies last – including   the provision of change on the increase in the number of women in electoral lists that offers a set proportion of sexes in party lists, to make least 30/70 instead of 20/80.

What is planned by the new Electoral Code? The proportion of men and women in article 84 of the draft remained unchanged compared with the current law – 20/80, moreover, also the proposed sequence remains unchanged – beginning from the 2nd each of the five – 2-6, 2-11, 2-16, and so on … Such a sequence is viewed as discriminatory by women’s organizations, as because of this formulation most of the political forces involved women candidates from 6th place while the minimum threshold is for the first five.

As a result, in 2012 recorded a significant setback compared to the previous elections in 2007 – the inclusion of women in party lists for the first five was 4 times less, and in the top ten –  more than 2 times less.

It should be mentioned that PACE Resolution No. 1898, adopted in 2012, “Political parties and women’s political representation,” emphasized the responsibility of all parties to ensure gender balance in the legislature and in society, and contribute to their political involvement in terms of growth and progress.

Today, the recommendations made by public sector, international organizations, as well as experts on gender issues say that gender proportion of party lists must achieve a minimum of 30/70, involving women from the first place, each of the three.

Full text in Armenian