HC Deb 06 April 2000 vol 347 cc535-6W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made towards the achievement of Commonwealth Heads of Government target relating to the proportion of women in decision-making roles in political, public and private sectors by 2005. [114778]

Ms Jowell

[holding answer 16 March 2000]: At their 1996 meeting, Commonwealth Ministers of Women's Affairs recommended that member countries achieve a target of no less than 30 per cent. of women in the political, public and private sectors by 2005 and those countries already close to achieving this target should aim for gender parity.

It is up to individual countries to use ways most appropriate to their national circumstances to achieve these targets and there are no figures available regarding the public and private sector.

The Commonwealth Secretariat undertook a number of initiatives to assist governments in their efforts to increase women's participation in political decision-making, including:

  • advocacy at various level Commonwealth forums and a publication of a collection of the life histories of 33 successful Commonwealth women politicians;
  • completion of a series of regional conferences to encourage more women to become involved in local government;
  • organising a series of regional symposiums on Gender, Politics and Conflict/Peace for parliamentarians.

At the level of local government, which women have often used as a political entry point and training ground, the figures have been more substantial with four countries exceeding the Commonwealth's 30 per cent. target in 1999, as shown in the following table.

Women's representation in political decision-making in the Commonwealth: Ranking of top 10 counties in 1999–2000
Percentage
National Executive/Cabinet (1999)
1. The Gambia 30.8
2. South Africa 29.6
3. Grenada 26.7
4. Sierra Leone 26.4
5. Seychelles 25.0
6. Canada 24.0
7. United Kingdom 22.0
8. Mozambique 19.6
9. Botswana 19.0
10. Uganda 18.6
National Parliament (2000)
1. South Africa 30.3
2. New Zealand 29.3
3. Mozambique 28.0
4. Australia 25.0
5. Seychelles 23.5
6. Canada 22.2
7. Trinidad and Tobago 20.9
8. Bahamas 19.6
9. Belize 18.4
10. Uganda 18.3
Local Government (1999)
1. Seychelles 54.0
2. Uganda 40.8
3. India 33.5
4. Canada 30.0
5. New Zealand 29.0
6. St. Lucia 29.0
7. United Kingdom 27.0
8. Australia 24.0
9. Trinidad and Tobago 20.4
10. St. Vincent and the Grenadines 20.0

Sources:

Commonwealth Secretariat (1999). Report of the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the Implementation of the 1995 Plan of Action on Gender and Development. London: Commonwealth Secretariat, Gender and Youth Affairs Division. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (2000). "Women in Commonwealth Parliaments" paper presented at the Commonwealth Workshop on Gender and Democracy, Windhoek Namibia 9-11 February 2000. London: Commonwealth Secretariat, Political Affairs Division.