The representation of women in Parliament, March 2014

Open Data Albania is conducting a research on the participation of women in politics in function of the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in representative functions. In March 2014, the Parliament is composed of twenty- six female deputies. Thirteen of them are deputies of the Socialist Party; nine are member of the Democratic Party and four deputies of ?Levizja Socialiste per Integrim?. Dibra , Kukes and Gjirokastra have no female representative in the Assembly. Regions of the north bring only five women as representatives in the assembly against eleven deputies of the southern regions and ten other deputies from three regions of the center of Albania.

Even in Tirana as the region with more deputies and consequently with more female deputies, the representation of 30 % level is still far away from the current actual representation which stands at around 17 % . In March 2014 the representation of women in parliament stands at 18.6 %.

^{Source: Assembly        
Comments and analysis: ODA}       

^{Source: Assembly        
Comments and analysis: ODA}

Names of female deputies in Parliament March 2014

^{Source: Assembly        
Comments and analysis: ODA}

The ratio came to this result after the resignation of a number of deputies from their mandates, namely Silva Caka from the district of Berat which replaces Nasip Naco, Esmeralda Shkjau replaces deputy Ilir Beqaj in Durres, Miranda Rira of Elbasan district replaces deputy Edmond Haxhinasto, Adelina  Rista of Fier district replaces deputy Englantina Gjermeni; Mejreme Delishi of Lezha district resigns; Kejdi Mehmetaj of the district of Tirana replaces the deputy Klajda Gjosha, Blerina Gjylameti of  Tirana district replaces deputy Lindita Nikolla; Enkelejda Shkreli of Tirana district replaces deputy Milena Harito.

Over the years in our country women participation in parliament is presented at low levels. With the new Electoral Code and the establishment of criteria for running lists containing not less than 30% for each gender, in the last two elections after 2009 it was marked an increased representation against the negative values recorded in 1996-2005.

^{Source: United Nations (unstat.un.org)            
Comments and analysis: ODA}            
 
Compared to the countries of the region, Albania has the lowest level of representation than most of them. Among the 21 countries taken under consideration, Denmark holds the first place regarding the higher participation of women in politics by 39.1%.

Albania is represented by women in only 18.6% of the total while the neighboring countries of the region have crossed the 20% level using a standard target mainly of the European countries with gender representation at 20%. Only Turkey, Romania and Hungary record results lower than our country. This figure is an indication not only of the democracy of a country, but also of improving gender equality between men and women.

Another indicator of representation is the low percentage of women elected in local level as in municipalities and communes. With only eleven women as mayors of communes or 1.5% of the total, and three mayors of municipalities or in representation level only 4.6%, the representation of women in electoral processes remains at low levels.

^{Source: United Nations (unstat.un.org)            
Comments and analysis: ODA}