Several
countries have adopted legislation to ensure a more equalitarian representation
of men and women in democratic institutions, under the paradigm of parity,
especially in Latin America. The principle of parity goes beyond the approach
of gender quotas and other TSM. Unlike TSM, parity measures are not seen as
temporary, but permanent, and aim to rethink the distribution of political
power in terms of gender balance in the pursuit of substantive democracy. In
these countries, parity is considered as a further and essential step in the
construction of genuinely democratic societies, where women, who represent
approximately half of the population, should be able to participate fully in
the social and public life under equal conditions as men, and should also be
entitled to half of the decision-making positions in the political sphere.[1]
Although
parity democracy had already been a claim of women’s groups, the concept was
later defended in the Athens Declaration, adopted in the framework of the first
European Summit of Women in Power in 1992, according to which “equality [of
women and men] requires parity in the representation and administration of
Nations.” The declaration contains several arguments in favor of an equal
representation of men and women in the decision-making process: quality of
democracy, good use of human resources, satisfying the needs and interests of
women and improving the policy making process.[2]
The
Latin American region has been particularly active in the promotion of parity
democracy, with several countries recognizing parity mechanisms in their
respective legal frameworks for elections, including Bolivia (2008), Costa Rica
(2009), Ecuador (2008), Mexico (2014), Nicaragua (2012) and Argentina (2017).[3]
The proportion of women MPs in the lower or single chambers of these countries
following the last elections is among the highest worldwide and represents,
respectively, 53.1 percent, 45.6 percent, 38 percent, 48.2 percent, 45.7
percent and 38.9 percent.[4]
In the case of Argentina, the law foreseeing parity mechanisms has not yet been
applied in legislative elections.
[3] Gender Equality
Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), based on national
legislation from different countries. See: https://oig.cepal.org/es/leyes/leyes-de-cuotas
