The proposal on the ensuring at least 40/60 proportion of sexes of  candidates in party electoral lists

The organizations participating in the EQUAL advocacy campaign, represented by OxYgen Foundation for Youth and Women Rights and ProMedia-Gender NGO, have submitted a proposal within the framework of the Draft Amendments to the RA Electoral Code published on the e-draft website by the RA Government.  The proposal envisions ensuring at least 40/60 proportion of sexes of  candidates in party electoral lists and in the composition of the factions in the de-facto elected National Assembly through elections conducted by simple proportional representation system (without open lists).

                                                                   Proposal

Based on  

The open letter of more than 40 non-governmental organizations to the Commission on Electoral Legislation Reforms adjunct to the Prime Minister and the follow-up discussions, held in the commission on July 6 of this year, on improving the quota defined by 30/70 proportion of sexes of candidates in party lists as stipulated by Point 4 of Article 83 and Point 3 of Article 100 of the RA Electoral Code,

Mindful that

Even by repealing open lists and applying simple proportional representation system, the proposed solutions as provided for in Articles 48 and 61 of the Draft Amendments and Additions to the RA Electoral Code regarding Point 3 of Article 83 and Point 3 of Article 100 of the existing Electoral Code will safeguard only the minimum threshold for women’s representation in the National Assembly and cannot be regarded as a major step forward towards achieving equal representation of women and men in the National Assembly, and, therefore, they do not meet the expectations of women, which make up half of the society, and NGOs dealing with protection of women’s rights, 

Taking in consideration  

• The requirements of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on application of temporary measures/quotas/ to support women,
• The obligations of the Republic of Armenia within the framework of the Recommendation Rec (2003) 3 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Member States on ensuring no less than 40% threshold for women’s representation at the level of political decision making by 2020,
• The obligations of the UN Member States, including the Republic of Armenia, within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals on ensuring equal participation of women and men (50/50) in all areas of life by 2030,
• PACE Resolution 1898 (2012) on the responsibility of parties for ensuring gender balance in a legislative body and the entire society and promoting women’s engagement and their political growth and progress,

Bearing in mind

That the majority of political forces have surpassed the 30/70 proportion of sexes of the candidates in their electoral lists in at least four elections conducted through proportional representation system in the Republic of Armenia over the past two years,  

We propose:

To consider and formulate the solutions provided for in Articles 48 and 61 of the Draft on Amendments and Additions to the RA Electoral Code regarding Point 3 of Article 83 and Point 3 of Article 100 in the existing Electoral Code only as a temporary measure in the upcoming snap elections, and, at the same time, secure

• The quota improvement vision provided for in Article 48 of the Draft by the following edit:

       “Article 83: Electoral Lists of Parties (Alliance of Parties)

1. The number of representatives of each sex in the electoral lists of parties, alliances of parties and each party involved in the alliance shall not exceed 60 percent starting from the first position in any integer groups of five (1-5, 1-10, 1-15 and so continually till the end of the list).”

• The mechanism guaranteeing women’s representation in the de–facto elected National Assembly as provided for by Article 61 of the Draft by the following edit:

“Article 100: Provision of Mandates to Deputies

1. The mandate of a deputy who refuses to accept the mandate of the first section of the electoral list or is elected deputy, but terminates his/her powers early, is, after informing the commission about that by the Central Electoral Commission’s protocol,  given, within a week, to the candidate next by order in the electoral list of that party, and, if this leads to the reduction of the number of representatives of any sex in the given faction and, as a result, [the number] is less than 40 percent, the mandate is given to the next candidate of a poorly represented sex , if there is any, in the electoral list of the party.”     

• To apply the above noted provisions, which ensure at least 40/60 proportion of sexes of candidates in the party lists, in local self-government elections conducted through proportional representation system in communities with permanent population of more than 70 thousand.