Comments
Together with priority measures 51 and 52, priority measure 48 constitutes a group of measures that seek to achieve equal participation for women in the formulation and implementation of public policies and in high-level decision-making (priority measure 51) and to prevent, punish and eradicate political and administrative harassment of women who reach decision-making positions (priority measure 52).
Possible lines of action
Promulgate and apply legal measures, including quota systems, to achieve parity in decision-making positions in all areas of public power.
Related instruments, forums and mechanisms
Santo Domingo Consensus. In general, chapter E (“Gender equality and the empowerment of women for political participation in decision-making”), and more specifically agreement 101 (“Ensure that women have equal access to decision-making positions in all branches of government and in local governments, through legislative and electoral initiatives and measures that guarantee parity of representation in all political spheres and a commitment to strategic agendas to achieve parity in political participation and gender parity as a State policy”).
Brasilia Consensus, agreement 3.d (“Promote the creation of mechanisms which ensure women’s political partisanship and participation and which, as well as parity in candidate registers, ensure parity of outcomes, equal access to campaign financing and electoral propaganda, and women’s participation in decision-making within party structures, and support such mechanisms where they already exist; in addition, create mechanisms to sanction non-compliance with legislation in this area”).
Quito Consensus, agreement ii (“Adopt all necessary affirmative action measures and mechanisms, including the necessary legislative reforms and budgetary allocations, to ensure the full participation of women in public office and in political representative positions with a view to achieving parity in the institutional structure of the State (executive, legislative and judicial branches, as well as special and autonomous regimes) and at the national and local levels as an objective for Latin American and Caribbean democracies”).
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, article 7, (“States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right: (a) To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies; […] (c) To participate in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country”).
Sustainable Development Goals, target 5.5 (“Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life”).
