The DA will not accept amendments to the Electoral Act to provide for party gender quotas. This would be as constitutionally problematic as basing representation in Parliament on race or any other demographic variable.
The DA thoroughly rejects the concept of demographic representivity, which was the animating idea of apartheid. In contrast, our constitutional democracy enjoins us all to protect each other's rights. You don't need to look the same as someone to be represented by them in Parliament.
At the Women's Parliament gala dinner yesterday, the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, said that government is working on changes to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2014 elections which would require all political parties to have at least 50% representation by women. If a party fails to reach this target, they will "not qualify for Parliament".
A legislated quota would amount to a violation of the Constitutional right to non-discrimination.
Read the press release at All Africa, published 2 September 2012.
The DA will not accept amendments to the Electoral Act to provide for party gender quotas. This would be as constitutionally problematic as basing representation in Parliament on race or any other demographic variable.
The DA thoroughly rejects the concept of demographic representivity, which was the animating idea of apartheid. In contrast, our constitutional democracy enjoins us all to protect each other's rights. You don't need to look the same as someone to be represented by them in Parliament.
At the Women's Parliament gala dinner yesterday, the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, said that government is working on changes to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2014 elections which would require all political parties to have at least 50% representation by women. If a party fails to reach this target, they will "not qualify for Parliament".
A legislated quota would amount to a violation of the Constitutional right to non-discrimination.
Read the press release at All Africa, published 2 September 2012.