13
candidacy by power brokers, traditionally males.
· Negative political culture (women apprehensive to be associated
with political system).
· Male-dominated party structures and systems of candidate
selection that do not create a level playing field for male and female candidates, despite women's critical and predominant role in the organizational work of the parties and in electoral campaigns.
To cultivate further support for her motion, Senator Duncan-Price worked with numerous external actors. One NGO partner in particular, the 51% Coalition, was crucial for research, analysis, and rallying women parliamentarians from all major parties. It was also important to engage a public relations firm to bring to light the importance of the motion. One of her key media messages was “gender equality is smart economics.” Though many attempted to reduce her arguments to quotas alone, or women “taking over,” she worked with radio, television, and newspaper outlets and accepted requests for presentations by NGOs and civic groups in order to ensure clarity in the public discourse. The bill was strategically timed, as well, and tabled the day before International Women’s Day.
During the two months of national dialogue, the motion also received timely backing through the comments of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. In response to the tendency to dismissively point to the eight women members of parliament, six women senators, and three women mayors in Jamaica as evidence of sufficient progress, the Prime Minister said: 5
Motion to Advance Women in Leadership and Decision-Making
BE IT RESOLVED that a Joint Select Committee be convened to consider and make recommendations that would:
i. Seek to identify, address and correct the systemic gender inequalities which result in women's under representation in Parliament and local authorities, in the organs of political parties and on public boards, including through the use of “temporary special measures”, as recommended under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
ii. Seek to ensure that the legislative process affords meaningful opportunities for dialogue between Parliamentarians and those they represent about proposed laws and how they will affect their families, livelihoods and community, recognizing that women and men will have different needs, interests and responsibilities, which are relevant to effective and responsive legislative policies.
Passed by the Senate of Jamaica on May 16, 2014
Report on the Annual Gathering of the Group of Women Parliamentarians
"
"
An aircraft is in the sky making progress, so, too, is a cart on the ground. The difference is in the pace. Yes, progress is taking place, but the matter of pace is
of critical consideration.
- Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller