At a glance
Structure of Parliament: Unicameral
Are there legislated quotas...
-
Yes
for the Single/Lower House?
-
No
at the Sub-national level?
Are there voluntary quotas...
-
No
adopted by political parties?
East Timor
(Democratic Republic of East Timor)
Single/Lower house
National Parliament
| Total seats: | 65 |
| Total women: | 19 |
| % women: |
29%
|
| Election year: | 2009 |
| Electoral system: | |
| Quota type: |
Legislated Candidate Quotas
|
| Election details: |
IDEA Voter Turnout
IPU Parline
|
| Legal source | Details |
|---|
Quota type:
Legislated Candidate Quotas |
Electoral law |
On electoral lists, one out of every group of four candidates must be a woman (Law on Election, Article 12 [3]). |
|---|
| Legal sanctions for non-compliance: |
Electoral law |
The list will be rejected (Law on Election, Article 12 [3]). |
| Rank order/placement rules: |
Electoral law |
On electoral lists, one out of every group of four candidates must be a woman (Law on Election, Article 12 [3]). |
Sources | Additional information | Contact us
Last updated 2009-09-14
Additional information
A debate on the introduction of quotas for women took place in Timor-Leste during the UN administration of the country through UNTAET between October 1999 and April 2001 (Ballington & Dahlerup 2006, p. 251-252). During this period, REDE (a network of 16 women's organizations) proposed that a mandatory quota be contained in the electoral regulation, relying for example on the Beijing Platform of Action and the UN CEDAW Convention. At least 30% of women candidates were to be proposed in the political party lists and placed in winnable positions, with every third candidate listed from the top being women.
The National Council, however, rejected quotas in 2001. The UN was split in opinions: while UNIFEM, The High Commissioner for Human Rights and The UN Division for the Advancement of Women were in favour, the Electoral Assistance Division under the Under Secretary General for Political Affairs and the UN Department of Political Affairs were against it.
UN staff members in Timor-Leste lobbied National Council members before its session. A majority of women in the National Council, having acquired theirs seats through affirmative action and having been participants of the Women's Congress, voted against the inclusion of quotas.
In 2006, the electoral law was however amended to include a 25 quota for women.
Last updated 2009-11-18
Sources
- Ballington, Julie & Dahlerup, Drude (2006), "Gender quotas in post-conflict states: East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq", in Women, Quotas and Politics, Drude Dahlerup (ed.), New York: Routledge
Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, 2002Law No.6/2006 on the Elections of the National Parliament
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