The Argentine House of Deputies yesterday passed the Law on Gender Parity in Political Representation, which will be in force at the national level. In taking this major step, Argentina has joined the eight countries in our region that already have Laws in force on Gender Parity with regard to electoral lists (Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama, Honduras, and Venezuela).
This advance in regulations is in line with Argentina's policy on the promotion of women's political participation, as it is the first country in the world to have passed a Gender Quota Law for legislative elections, in 1991 (Law No. 24012). Seven provincial legislatures have already passed their gender parity laws: Buenos Aires, Salta, Chubut and Neuquen (2016), Rio Negro (2002), Cordoba and Santiago del Estero (2000).
This major legal framework that Argentina has successfully developed is grounded on constitutional provisions, such as the provision establishing affirmative action practices to guarantee actual equal opportunities between men and women regarding access to political representation (art. 37 of the Argentine Constitution) and the provision mandating that Congress pass legislation and promote affirmative action practices that guarantee actual equal opportunities and equal treatment, particularly regarding children, women, elderly people and persons with disabilities (art. 75 subsection 23 of the Argentine Constitution). It should be noted that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has been incorporated into the Argentine Constitution.
According to the Inter-American Commission of Women of the OAS, gender parity applied to electoral lists is the policy that has produced the best results in increasing the ratio of female law-makers elected to lower Houses in Congress. In most of the countries that have passed gender parity laws, women representation shows a significant increase with unprecedented rates, most of which are over 40%.
Upon the entry into force of the Law on Gender Parity in political representation, Argentina will be making a substantial contribution to gender equality and helping build a more equitable world.
Press release No. 541/17
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