Liberia’s Senate has adopted a proposal for an electoral quota system. This is an important step for increasing women’s political participation in the country, and shows how effective the joint advocacy work made by women within civil society and politics has been.
Liberia is currently going through a process of reforming its electoral system. Since women have a very low representation in the Senate and House of Representatives, the women’s movement has joined forces to try to bring about change.
The women’s movement has previously submitted two proposals for a quota system, both of which have been rejected. But as a result of meetings between women’s organisations and female politicians – which since 2012 have been carried out with the support of The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation – they have now agreed on a new proposal. This stipulates that “both sexes” should have a representation of at least 30 % in political assemblies.
Criticism from men
The proposal has met strong criticism from men in decision-making positions, including arguments that it reduces women’s capacity and goes against the constitution’s provisions on equal rights for all citizens. But March 3, Marayah Fyneah, National Coordinator at the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia Secretariat, came to Kvinna till Kvinna’s office and told that the proposal would be addressed in the Senate the following day.
The discussion turned out to be very interesting. In the Senate there are only three women out of a total of 30 members, and all three chose to keep a low profile, thereby avoiding the all to familiar “women against men”-trap. Instead it became a conflict dynamics between “modern men” and “traditional men”.
Referred to Resolution 1325
Many good arguments were raised and several of the male senators were well informed. One member addressed research showing that “good governance” increases as women get political positions of power. There were also senators referring to the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and its writings on the importance of women’s influence. It was pointed out that this is not an issue of the proposal being for or against the constitution, but a question of political will.
“Does Liberia want to make use of the resources that our women possess, and do we want to be part of the global movement that recognizes women as important for the development of a country?” said Franklin Siankor, Senator of Bong County.
Sent to House of Representatives
In the public gallery, women hugged each other in silence. Next to me sat a woman who was there on behalf of the Electoral Commission. She just smiled and said “this is a great day for women”. No one cheered, the atmosphere was too solemn for outbursts.
The next step for the law to pass, is for it to be approved in Liberia’s other chamber, the House of Representatives. There, it will probably be the object of another heated debate, since only 11 of the chamber’s 73 seats are held by women.
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