AFGHAN WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS

Early day motion 1029, tabled 15 November 2005 by Joan Ruddock (Labour). Signed by 95 members.

That this House congratulates all the 189 women who were successfully elected as representatives in Afghanistan's parliamentary assembly and provincial elections on 18th September; recognises the challenges that all 550 women candidates faced during the campaign, including intimidation, conservative traditions and lack of resources; calls on the international community to provide appropriate resources for capacity building amongst parliamentarians with particular emphasis on the needs of women; and notes that the constitutional quota of 25 per cent. for the parliamentary assembly was more than met, with women ahead of men in some areas, and that as a consequence, Afghanistan will be around 20 places ahead of the UK in the world league table for percentage of women members in national parliaments.

Signatures by party: Labour 47, Conservative 27, Liberal Democrat 16, DUP 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.