WUNRN
YEMEN - QUOTA SYSTEM ENSURES FEMALE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, BUT FLAWS REMAIN
In order to ensure the effectiveness of the quota
system, it is necessary for
By Ghaidaa Alabsi - 2 December 2013
SANA’A,
At the time, a failing economy, widespread
unemployment, public dissatisfaction with the country’s constitution and
government corruption meant
But by many standards, it was ordinary Yemenis who
forged a solution, and in November 2011 the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative
was signed by Saleh, transferring power to Vice President Abd Rabu
Mansour Hadi in exchange for freedom from prosecution. Under the initiative, a
national unity government was created that evenly divided the government between
Saleh’s ruling party and the opposition.
The initiative essentially staved off a civil war. One
component of the Gulf initiative also established a National Dialogue
Conference to create a new constitution and decide on a future political path
for the country.
The NDC also put in place a constitutional provision
that allots women 30 percent of seats in the country’s legislative branch and
proposed a proportional system for the country’s elections, meaning that the
number of seats won by a party or group is proportional to the number of votes
received. The new electoral system also involves closed lists, meaning that
voters vote from a select list of candidates.
These measures have been deemed a huge success in the
fight for increased female participation in Yemeni politics. However,
detractors say the quota system that allots a specific number of political
seats to women is a weak conciliatory gesture designed to appease Yemeni women,
and that it may be tough to enforce.
When British forces occupied
The new regime pushed legislation and constitutional
amendments that favored Yemeni women’s participation in politics. By 1970,
Under the constitution, women age 18 or older were
given the right to vote. Like men, women age 24 or older were permitted to run
for political office. However, only 10 out of a total 111 candidates in the
country’s last elections for the Supreme People’s Council – the country’s chief
legislative body – were women. These elections were last held in 1986, before
the unification of South and
During this time, there were no quota systems in place
for women entering politics. The first serious consideration of the quota
system was addressed in 1975 during the United Nations’ First World Conference
on Women.
Before the quota system was put in place, many viewed
a woman entering politics as a complicated move. It was both stigmatized and
seen as an uncertain path, given the absence of laws guaranteeing equal
treatment to male politicians. These are also reasons why many Yemenis view the
quota system as positive step forward, as it guarantees women political
opportunities and a political voice.
Before the unification of North and South Yemen, women
in
After unification, women living in both the northern
and southern parts of the country expected the start of a golden era of female
political participation. However, this never manifested, and in fact, women in
unified
In order to ensure the effectiveness of the quota
system, it is necessary for
The country’s political parties should also adopt the
quota system in their electoral system, as this would open the door for more
women to run as candidates for higher office and give them a real chance of
being elected. Quotas with placement mandates would prevent political parties
from putting female candidates at the bottom of the party ballot, where they
have little to no chance of being elected. Having enforcement mechanisms would
also mean consequences for political parties that do not abide by quota system
rules.
The quota system could certainly be a step forward for
women hoping to enter politics, but it is a gesture without much weight behind
it if the requirement is not closely followed. There also remains a need for
Yemeni women to make demands of the country’s government, not only for the
purpose of enforce existing laws, but also to boost their presence in other
areas of Yemeni politics, including higher office.
At the end of the day, the quota system is more of a
numerical gain for women, which does not necessarily translate to a qualitative
gain for female political participation in