Dr. Ramjilal
Social Scientist, Former Principal, Dyal Singh College, Karnal (Haryana – India)
email id:[email protected]
(Samaj Weekly)- The population of women in the world is almost equal to that of men. Real democracy cannot be established unless women get equal representation as men in all fields. Due to the representation of women, not only issues related to women, but also issues of national and international interest will be discussed. Women will not remain silent spectators, but will play an active role in law-making, policy-making, and their implementation. Consequently, participatory democracy will be established.
The development of the entire country is not possible without the enthusiastic and energetic participation of women. This is the main reason why the gender quota system was adopted in the world parliaments in the 1970s in the last century. In that decade, only 5 countries had gender quotas. Gradually, by 1995, the number of women representatives in the parliaments of various countries increased to 11.3 percent. In 1997, 11.7% of the total number of MPs in the national parliaments of various countries, were women.
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union-1PU, in December 2009, the number of women MPs in the world was 18% of the total number of MPs. As of 30 October, 2015, the total number of parliamentarians in different countries was 46,552, and out of these, only 8716 were women, which was 19.5% of the total number of parliamentarians. According to the Global Parliamentary Report, the representation of women among global parliaments has increased to 26.5% by 2023. There has been an increase of 15.2% in the period of 28 years from 1995 to 2023. This is not a miracle.
Despite this, the highest increase occurred in the states of the American region, where the total number of women MPs was 12.7% in 1995, which increased to 34.9% by 2023. But, by 2023, it has increased from 13.2% to 31% in European countries. In other words, there has been a tremendous rise of approximately 18% over a period of 28 years. According to the data compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, if the rate of progress in women’s representation continues to increase, gender equality can be achieved in the year 2063. In other words, there are still 40 years left to achieve the goal of gender equality.
National Parliament with the largest share of women
Serial NO Country Female %
1 Rwanda 61.3%
2 Cuba 53.4%
3 Nicaragua 50.6%
4 Mexico 50%
5 UAE 50%
6 New Zealand 49.2%
7 Iceland 47.6%
table 1
(Source: statista.com/statistics)
According to the data published by Statistical Research Department, (23 January 2023), Rwanda ranks top in the world with respect to women’s representation in the National Parliament (lower house or unicameral parliament), with the largest share of women, at 61.3%. After that come Cuba (53.4%), Nicaragua (50.6%), Mexico (50%), UAE (50%), New Zealand (49.2%) and Iceland (47.6%). Iceland ranks highest among European countries with 47.6%. According to the figures of October 2023, only 28.9% of women are in the lower house (House of Representatives) of America, the ‘self-proclaimed protector’ of democracy in the world, and 24.2% of women in the second house (Senate). As a result, according to the Monthly World Report (October 2023), America is at 69th place in the list of 185 countries.
Although India is the world’s largest democracy and the mother of democracy, about 690 women MPs, including 25 Muslim women MPs, have become MPs in the Parliament of India (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) in seven and a half decades. In the elections of the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, 66 women were elected, which is about 12.6% of the total number. Regarding women’s representation in the world ranking, India was ranked 149th in the list of 193 countries in 2014. 78 women were elected in the elections. This number is 14.6 percent of the total number of MPs. India’s position in the global ranking is 148th and we are behind China, Nepal, and Pakistan.
In the span of 70 years from 1952 to 2020, the total number of elected and nominated women MPs in the Indian Rajya Sabha has been 208. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India, the total number of MPs and MLAs in India is 4896. Of these, women are only 418 (9%). In fact, only 9% of the population is not a good sign. This is why the struggle to implement gender quotas for women through constitutional provisions has been going on for a long time in India. According to the Constitutional Act 2023, 33 percent reservation has been made in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The demand for setting a reserved quota for women of the OBC category also continues. Feminist thinkers say that a 50 percent quota should be set for women in the Assembly and Parliament.
Increase in the Number of Women Speakers of Parliaments Globally
According to the latest edition of the IPU, along with the increase in the number of women MPs, there has also been an increase in the number of women Speakers of national parliaments. Global Map According to IPU, the number of women Speakers of Parliaments has increased from 20.9% in 2021 to 22.7%. In other words, according to the IPU Parline, out of 191 parliaments in the world, only 42 are headed by women and 149 are headed by men. In India, from 1951-52 till date, only two women have been the Speaker (Speaker) of the Lok Sabha. Mrs. Meira Kumar has been the first Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (from 2009 to 2014) and Mrs. Sumitra Mahajan has been the second woman Speaker (from 2014 to 2019). Therefore, in India too, a huge gender gap is clearly visible regarding the presidency of the Lok Sabha.
Reserved quota for women in national parliaments globally
Currently, in about 100 countries of the world, some quota has been set to give representation to women. In the countries where a quota is not set, the participation of women in parliaments is less than in the countries where there is a quota system.
Three principles of the quota system are prevalent in different countries to provide representation to women.
First, in many countries, voluntary quotas for women have been set by political parties. Among these countries, Sweden, South Africa, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, etc. are notable among the countries giving the highest quota. Second, Rwanda and Argentina are notable countries with quotas based on constitutional provisions. Third, Costa Rica, Angola, and Bangladesh are notable states that have granted women quotas based on electoral laws. Fourth, in those countries where there is neither a voluntary quota of political parties, a quota based on constitutional provisions, nor a quota based on electoral acts, there are 11 states in which the status of women’s representation looks good. Among these countries, the names of Cuba, Senegal, Denmark, Spain, Germany, China, England, France, America, India, etc. are notable.
We would like to inform interested readers that India’s neighboring countries Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh also have quota systems. Reservation for women in the national legislature in Pakistan started in the 1950s of the 20th century and currently, 20% of seats are reserved for women. Based on constitutional provisions in Nepal, 33.9 percent of seats are reserved for women in the House of Representatives. Out of a total of 350 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad (national legislature) of Bangladesh, 50 seats are reserved for women. According to the data of 2021, 27% of seats are reserved for women in the national legislature of Afghanistan, which has been struggling with Taliban terrorism since the last century. But, there is no quota of any kind for women in China.
Women’s Representation in the Global cabinets
NO Name of country % women
1. Albania 66.7
2. Finland 64.3
3. Spain 63.6
4. Nicaragua 62.5
5. Liechtenstein 60.0
6. Chile 58.3
7. Belgium 57.1
8. Mozambique 55.0
9. Andorra, Colombia, Germany, Netherlands, Norway 50.0
Table 2
It is evident from the above table that the representation of women is increasing even at the executive level. According to the latest edition of IPU-UN Women Map (7 March 2023), by 1 January 2023, 151 countries (except 17 monarchical systems) 11. Women are the heads of state in 3 percent of the countries and women are the heads of state in 9.8 percent of the countries. A decade ago, the number of women heads of state was only 5.3% and the number of heads of state was 7.3%. European countries are playing a leading role in the representation of women. At present, 16 women are leading in different countries of Europe. According to the report of January 1, 2023, 22.8 percent of women lead the policy-making cabinet members. Countries with 50% or more women in the cabinet include Albania (66.7%), Finland (64.3%), Spain (63.6%). The countries are Nicaragua (62.5%), Liechtenstein (60%), Chile 58.3%), Belgium (57.1%), etc. But, in the regions of Europe and North America, 31.6% of cabinet ministers, and in Latin America and the Caribbean 30.1% are women. In 17 additional countries globally, women’s representation among cabinet ministers ranges between 40 and 49.9 percent, with most Oceania and West Asia countries having no female cabinet members leading ministries. There are only 11 women among the 77 ministers in the BJP-led NDA Council of Ministers of India. In other words, out of 11 ministers, there is only one woman minister. According to the published data, due to the patriarchal mentality dominating the economic, justice, defense, and home departments at the global level, male dominance is established and women are on the back foot in the national cabinets in these areas. Women lead human rights, gender equality, and social security departments. Although gender equality exists in some countries, there is still a wide gap in women’s representation in cabinets at the global level.
Representation of women in political institutions on the global stage is essential so that real democracy can be established. Due to the representation of women in Parliament or Legislative Assemblies, women-related issues will be discussed in a sensitive manner that will help in solving the problems of half the population. Help will be provided, but there are many social, economic, and educational obstacles in the way of the political empowerment of women. The most important obstacle in the path of women is the patriarchal and narrow mentality of men ruling the entire world. Due to the patriarchal ideology, the dominance of men continues. Political consciousness is needed to break this obstacle. It is very difficult to bring about change without political consciousness. We firmly believe that there is a long way to go for women’s political participation and political empowerment.
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