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At a glance

Structure of Parliament: Bicameral

Are there legislated quotas...

  • Yes for the Single/Lower House?
  • Yes for the Upper House?
  • Yes at the Sub-national level?

Are there voluntary quotas...

  • No adopted by political parties?

Is there additional information?

Yes

Rwanda

(Republic of Rwanda)

Single/Lower house

Chambre des Députés / Chamber of Deputies

Total seats:80
Total women:45
% women: 56%
Election year:2008
Electoral system:List PR
Quota type: Reserved seats
Election details: IDEA Voter Turnout
IPU Parline
Legal sourceDetails
Quota type:
Reserved seats
Constitution"The State of Rwanda commits itself that women are granted at least 30 percent of posts in decision making organs" (Constitution, Article 9 [4]).  The 80 members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected as follows: 53 members elected by direct universal suffrage through a secret ballot using closed List PR; 24 women two from each province and from the city of Kigali by an electoral college with a women only ballot; 2 members elected by the National Youth Council; and one member elected by the Federation of the Associations of the Disabled (Constitution, Article 76).
Legal sanctions for non-compliance: N/A No data available
Rank order/placement rules: N/A No data available

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Last updated 2011-05-20

Upper house

Sénat / Senate

Total seats: 26
Total women:10
% women: 38%
Election year:2011
Electoral system:
Quota type: Reserved seats
Election details: IPU Parline
Legal sourceDetails
Quota type:
Reserved seats
Constitution "The State of Rwanda commits itself that women are granted at least 30 percent of posts in decision making organs" (Constitution, Article 9 [4]).  The 24 members in the senate "at least thirty per cent (30%) of whom are women" are indirectly elected by various electoral colleges, which "shall take into account national unity and equal representation of both sexes" (Constitution, Article 82).
Legal sanctions for non-compliance: N/A No data available
Rank order/placement rules: N/A No data available

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Last updated 2011-12-02

Quota at the Sub-National Level

Quota type:Reserved Seats
Legal sourceDetails
Quota type:
Reserved Seats
Electoral law There is a parallel system of women's councils and women-only elections guaranteeing a women's mandate for all elected bodies. The electoral law for local authorities concludes that 30 percent of members in all indirectly elected councils at district and city of Kigali levels shall be women. (Law 02/2006, Sections 2, 3 & 4).
Legal sanctions for non-compliance: No data available No data available
Rank order/placement rules: N/A No data available

Sources | Additional information | Contact us

Last updated 2009-11-19

Additional information

Regarding the workings of a political party, the constitution has the following formulation:

 

"Political organizations must constantly reflect the unity of the people of Rwanda and gender equality, whether in the recruitment of members, putting in place organs of leadership and in their operations and activities" (Article 54).

Last updated 2009-11-17

Sources

Additional reading

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