There is also another opportunity. In some countries, the Head of State can make special nominations to Parliament. There is in place a Southern African Development Community resolution which enjoins the Heads of State to facilitate 50/50 representation of both genders in all the SADC Parliaments by 2015. In my other capacity as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CWP) Africa Region I keep a pulse on the progress of participation of both genders in decision-making positions. To show that African countries are at different stages of compliance to the international instruments, I have reproduced a table (see Table
One) indicating the gender status of some Parliaments. The breakdown of the 131 seats won by women in my own country in our 2011 general elections was:
• Constituency Representatives: 11
• Women District Representatives: 12
• Youth Representatives: 2 • Representatives of disabled persons: 2
• Representatives of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces: 2
Women in influential positions?
Out of women Members of
Parliament, how many are Chairpersons of standing or sessional committees? What chance do we stand for at least 30 per cent of the committees of a House being chaired by women Members of Parliament? Of the powerful committees such as Finance, Agriculture or Defence, are any of them chaired by a woman Member of Parliament? If this has not been done yet, will there be an opportunity to amend the Rules of Procedure to ensure at least 30 per cent, if not 50 per cent, of committee Chairpersons are women? In my Parliament, I have made a proposal to the Rules Committee to consider parity in appointing the Chairpersons of the committees
Above: Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, MP, addressing delegates at an international conference in Kampala. Left: The Parliament of Uganda.