Gender Quotas Database
Colombia
South America
Single / Lower House
Cámara de Representantes / House of Representatives
| Total seats | 187 |
| Total women | 55 |
| Percentage of women | 29% |
| Gender Quota target | 30% |
| Election year | 2022 |
| Electoral system | List PR |
| Quota type | Legislated Candidate Quotas |
| Election details | IDEA Voter Turnout - IPU Parline |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas | Constitution |
… The political parties and movements shall organize themselves democratically and shall have as their guiding principles transparency, objectivity, morality, the equality of sexes, and the duty to present and disseminate their political programs. … (Article 107) |
| Electoral law |
In attention to the progressive application of the principles of gender equity, parity, alternation and universality enshrined in articles 40, 107 and 262 of the Political Constitution; in the lists where five (5) or more seats are elected for popularly elected corporations or those that are submitted to consultation, except for their result, including those related to the election of directors, when the political groups opt for this mechanism to election, they must be made up of a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of women, on the number of candidates registered in the corporation that is intended to apply. For lists of less than five (5) seats, thirty percent (30%) will be applied for the conformation of the gender quota (Article 80) |
|
| Political funding legislation |
5% of the total state funding for the political parties will be equally distributed to political parties and movements in proportion to the number of women representatives elected from their lists into publicly elected offices (Article 17.6). |
|
| Legal sanctions for non-compliance | Electoral law |
... Paragraph. Lists that do not comply with the gender quota stipulated in this article will constitute grounds for revocation of registration. The foregoing, without prejudice to the disciplinary sanctions or fines that may be imposed on political groups in the event of this non-compliance. … (Article 80)
|
| Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties related to gender equality among candidates? | Yes |
5% of the public funding is distributed according to the number of women elected in public office. See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database |
| Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
|
At least 15% of the public funding must be destined by political organizations to political and electoral training, and effective inclusive of young people, women and ethnic minorities. See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database |
Upper House
Senado de la República / Senate
| Total seats | 105 |
| Total women | 33 |
| Percentage of women | 31% |
| Gender Quota target | 30% |
| Election year | 2022 |
| Electoral system | List PR |
| Quota type | Legislated Candidate Quotas |
| Election details | IPU Parline |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas | Electoral law |
Political parties and movements with legal status may register candidates for popularly elected positions and corporations after verification of compliance with the qualities and requirements of their candidates, as well as that they are not involved in any causes. of inability or incompatibility . These candidates must be chosen through democratic procedures, in accordance with their statutes. The lists where 5 or more seats are chosen for publicly elected offices or those that are subject to consultation - except for their result - must consist of at least 30% of one of the genders. (Article 28 - Political Parties Law) |
| Political funding legislation | 5% of the total state funding for the political parties will be equally distributed to political parties and movements in proportion to the number of women elected in public offices (Article 17 (6)). | |
| Legal sanctions for non-compliance | Political Parties Law |
ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF REGISTRATIONS. The electoral authority with which the registration is carried out will verify compliance with the formal requirements demanded for the same and, if they find that they meet them, they will accept the request by signing the registration form in the corresponding box. … (Article 32 - Political Parties Law). |
Quota at the Sub-National Level
| Quota type | Legislated Candidate Quotas |
| Gender Quota target | 30% |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas | Electoral law |
Political parties and movements with legal status may register candidates for popularly elected positions and corporations after verification of compliance with the qualities and requirements of their candidates, as well as that they are not involved in any causes. of inability or incompatibility . These candidates must be chosen through democratic procedures, in accordance with their statutes. The lists where 5 or more seats are chosen for publicly elected offices or those that are subject to consultation - except for their result - must consist of at least 30% of one of the genders. (Article 28 - Political Parties Law) |
| Political funding legislation | 5% of the total state funding for the political parties will be equally distributed to political parties and movements in proportion to the number of women elected in public offices (Article 17 (6)). | |
| Legal sanctions for non-compliance | Political Parties Law |
ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF REGISTRATIONS. The electoral authority with which the registration is carried out will verify compliance with the formal requirements demanded for the same and, if they find that they meet them, they will accept the request by signing the registration form in the corresponding box. … (Article 32). |
Voluntary Political Party Quotas*
| Party | Official Name | Details, Quota provisions |
|---|---|---|
| No data available. | ||
* Only political parties represented in parliament are included. When a country has legislated quotas in place, only political parties that have voluntary quotas that exceed the percentage/number of the national quota legislation are presented in this table.
Additional information
In addition to the electoral law of 2011 which introduced the 30% minimum gender quota for candidate lists for publicly-elected offices, Colombian legislation recognizes the right of women to hold at least 30% of the highest public decision-making positions and of other public decision-making levels subject to appointment and removal, with powers of management and direction in designing, planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring the actions and policies of the state. Exceptions to the law apply to the judiciary, administrative or other positions in which the acceptance, permanence and promotion are based solely on merit (Law 581/2000). The Legislative Act No. 1 of 2003 removed the constitutional barriers that had served as the basis for the Constitutional Court to declare the initial legislation on candidate quotas unconstitutional.
The gender quota provisions introduced by the electoral law of 2011 were implemented for the first time at the local government elections held on 30 October 2011. One month before the elections, 217 candidate lists had been rejected by the electoral administration for failing to comply with the gender quota. The electoral administration extended the deadline for submission of candidate lists in order to give political parties a chance to meet the quota requirements. As a result of the implementation of the gender quota, the participation of women candidates has significantly increased from just under 20% of the total number of candidates in the 2007 local elections, to just over 35% in 2011.
Sources
Legal Sources:
- Constitution of Colombia - Link
- Electoral Code - Link
- Political Parties Law - Link
- Law on Women Participation in decision-making - Link
Other Sources:
- Parliament of Colombia - Link
- Electoral Council - Link
- SEGUIMIENTO AL CUMPLIMIENTO LEY DE CUOTAS (2021) - Link
- Informe Atenea (2019): "Colombia: La hora de la paridad" International IDEA, ONU Mujeres, UNDP, USAID.
- Balance de la aplicación de la ley 581 de 2000 (2011) - Link
- Falguera, E. and Casas-Zamora, K. (2017): "Financiación política y participación equitativa de las mujeres en Colombia: análisis de la situación". International IDEA and NIMD.
- Llanos, B (2019):"Surcando olas y contra-olas. Una mirada paritaria a los derechos políticos de las mujeres en América Latina". Atenea, International IDEA, ONU Mujeres, UNDP.
- Misión de Observación Electoral (2019): "Cuotas de Género y Justicia Electoral en Colombia". Bogotá: MOE in collaboration with Universidad Industrial de Santander, Suecia and USAID.
- Organización de los Estados Americanos (30th of October 2011) ‘Informe de la Misión de Veeduría Electoral, Elleciones Locales República de Colombia’ (Report of the electoral oversight mission, local elections in the Republic of Colombia).
- Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU Parline Colombia
Additional reading
- See the latest updates on Colombia on iKNOW Politics
- Gender Justice and Security, 2021, . "Gender Equality in Colombia, an overview"
- Misión de Observación Electoral (2014): " Elecciones y Medios de Comunicación. Un zoom a las mujeres en la agenda política. Seguimiento a Medios. Elecciones Congreso y Presidencia 2014". Bogotá: MOE in collaboration with Sweden and USAID.
- Htun, Mala N. 2002., Mujeres y poder politico en Latino america, in International IDEA, Mujeres en el Parlamento. Ms all de los numeros, Stockholm: International IDEA, pp. 19-44.
- Htun, Mala N. and Jones, M.P. 2002. "Engendering the Right to Participate in Decision-Making: Electoral Quotas and Women''s Leadership in Latin America." Nikki Craske and Maxine Molyneux(ed.) Gender and the Politics of Rights and Democracy in Latin America. New York: Palgrave. pp. 32-56.
- Peschard, J. 2002. ‘El sistema de cuotas en América Latina. Panorama general,’ in International IDEA. Mujeres en el Parlamento. Más allá de los números, Stockholm: International IDEA, pp. 173-186.
- Nivon, María de los Angeles. 2001. ‘En Colombia, el gobierno aún no permite mayor presencia de las mujeres en la política’ (In Colombia, the government still does not permit a greater presence of women in politics)
- Women's Leadership Conference of the Americas. 2001. Women and Power in the Americas: A Report Card. Washington: Women's Leadership Conference of the Americas.
- Jaramillo, I. C. 2000. Legal Reform, Feminism, and Patriarchy in Colombia: The Case of the Law of Quotas for Women in High-Decision Making Positions Within the Executive Branch. L.L.M. Thesis, Harvard Law School, May 10.
- Suleydy Gaitán, S. 1998. ‘Colombia: Desarrollos en Colombia frente a la Plataforma de Acción Mundial.’ Silvia Vega Ugalde (ed.) Acceso de las mujeres a la toma de decisiones en los países andinos. Quito: Coalición Política de Mujeres Andinas. pp. 147-182.
- Gutierrez, E. 1997. ‘Women-Latam: Andean Women Flex Their Political Muscle.’ Interpress Service, September 23.
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