FEM-ABLE
Italy
Good practices on women political participation
Gender Quota for electoral lists
Inspiring Girls
Consulta delle Donne
Gender Quota for electoral lists
- Objective
- Target group
- Implementation
- Results/Impact
- Lessons learned
- Transferability
- Resources/Support
- Contact information
To increase the representation of women in elected assemblies at national, regional, and local levels by introducing gender quotas for electoral lists.
Political parties and candidates for elections.
Legal Framework: The introduction of legislative quotas at the local (2012), the European (2004 and reformed in 2014) and the national levels (2017) played a significant role in improving women’s political representation.
The quota system was introduced by Law No. 215/2012, which applies to elections for the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, the Regional Councils, the Provincial Councils and the Municipal Councils. The Italian government introduced legislation requiring political parties to include a minimum percentage of women candidates on their electoral lists. The legislation sets a quota system that ensures a certain level of gender balance in candidate selection.
Quota Requirements: Political parties are mandated to allocate a minimum percentage of positions on their candidate lists to women.
It is required that each electoral list must include at least 40% of candidates of each gender, with a maximum deviation of 10% (i.e., between 40% and 60% of each gender). The lists that do not comply with this requirement are rejected.
Monitoring and Enforcement: The implementation of the quota system is monitored by electoral authorities to ensure compliance. Parties failing to meet the quota requirements may face penalties or be disqualified from participating in elections. The law also provides for financial incentives for political parties that respect the gender quotas.
Awareness and Support: The government, along with women’s rights organisations, conducts awareness campaigns and provides support to political parties to help them meet the quota requirements. This includes training programs, resources on gender equality, and sharing best practices.
- Increased representation of women in political party candidate lists.
- Greater visibility and participation of women in elections.
- Improved gender balance in elected bodies, leading to more diverse and inclusive decision-making processes.
However, the quota system has also faced some challenges and criticisms, such as:
- The lack of sanctions for non-compliance with the gender quotas in some cases (e.g., when candidates withdraw or are replaced after the submission of lists)
- The placement of women candidates in less favourable positions on the lists or in less competitive constituencies
- The resistance or opposition of some political parties or leaders to the introduction of gender quotas
- The perception of some voters or media that women candidates are less qualified or legitimate than men candidates
The quota system has shown that gender quotas can be an effective measure to increase women’s representation in elected assemblies.
However, considering Western Europe and North America, it ranks 19th out of 22 countries, with only Greece, Malta and Cyprus ranking lower. The problem with Italy does not seem to lie so much in the numerical representation of women, but it lies instead on other dimensions, which are mostly affected by the country’s value systems, cultural norms, and traditions, and which are not protected by electoral quotas, such as women’s participation in the labour market and salary disparities[1]. Hence, gender quota strategies need to be accompanied by other actions and changes, such as:
- Strengthening the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms of the law to ensure compliance with the quota system.
- Providing training and mentoring for women candidates and elected representatives
- Promoting a culture of gender equality and diversity within political parties and institutions
- Raising awareness and support among voters and media for women’s participation in politics
Share of Female Directors on the Boards of Large Listed Companies in Italy, 2003-2020. Source: The Gender Statistics Database (GSD) of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
[1] Marinella Belluati , Daniela R. Piccio & Rossana Sampugnaro (2020): Women’s access to the political sphere in Italy: when obstacles outdo opportunities, Contemporary Italian Politics, DOI: 10.1080/23248823.2020.1780031. To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/23248823.2020.1780031
The quota system is based on similar experiences and models from other countries that have adopted gender quotas for elections, such as France, Spain, Belgium, Argentina, etc. It also follows the recommendations and standards of international organisations and conventions on gender equality and democracy, such as the Council of Europe, the European Union, the United Nations, etc. Therefore, it can be considered as a transferable model for other countries or regions that aim to increase women’s representation in elected assemblies.
- According to the Law No. 215/2012, political parties that respect the gender quotas for electoral lists are entitled to receive a financial incentive of 10% of the public funding allocated to them according to their electoral results.
- The quota system also relies on the support of various actors, such as national institutions, regional and local authorities, civil society organisations (e.g., women’s associations, NGOs), academia, media and international organisations.
Ministry for Equal Opportunities
http://www.pariopportunita.gov.it/
Inspiring Girls
- Objective
- Target group
- Implementation
- Results/Impact
- Lessons learned
- Transferability
- Resources/Support
- Contact information
To challenge gender stereotypes in educational and professional choices of girls by connecting them with women who work in traditionally male-dominated sectors or in leadership positions.
Girls aged 10-15, women role models, teachers, parents, and the general public.
- Recruitment and training of women volunteers from different backgrounds, sectors and professions who are willing to share their stories and experiences with girls.
- Organisation of online and offline events in schools where women role models interact with girls through talks, workshops, games, and mentoring sessions.
- Creation of online content and resources such as videos, podcasts, blogs and social media posts that showcase the diversity and potential of women’s careers.
- Launch of a social media campaign called “Non è da maschio” (“It’s not for boys”) that features four women who have chosen unconventional careers for their gender, such as pilot, motorcyclist, environmental engineer, and football player.
- Development of a network and a platform for collaboration and exchange among women role models, schools, partners, and stakeholders involved in the project.
Inspiring Girls project has:
- Reached over 10,000 girls in Italy since its launch in 2019, involving more than 300 women role models from various fields and sectors.
- Increased the awareness and confidence of girls about their abilities and aspirations, as well as their knowledge and interest in non-traditional careers for women.
- Challenged the stereotypes and prejudices that limit the choices and opportunities of girls and women in society, work, education, and culture.
- Contributed to the promotion of gender equality and diversity as key values for sustainable development, economic growth, social cohesion, and participatory democracy.
- Gender stereotypes are deeply rooted in the culture and norms of society and affect the choices and outcomes of girls and women in all aspects of life.
- Gender stereotypes can be challenged and changed by exposing girls to positive and diverse examples of women who have pursued their passions and talents in different fields and sectors.
- Role models can inspire and empower girls to broaden their horizons, explore their potential and pursue their dreams without being limited by gender expectations or barriers.
- Role models can be found everywhere: they are ordinary women who do extraordinary things every day.
- The project is part of an international initiative that started in the UK in 2013 and has expanded to 15 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
- Based on a simple and scalable model, the project can be adapted and replicated in different contexts and regions. Furthermore, it is also aligned with the international goals on gender equality, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women (Istanbul Convention), the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the EU Strategy for Gender Equality.
- The initiative is funded and implemented by Valore D in partnership with Eni, Intesa Sanpaolo and Snam, three leading companies in Italy that are committed to fostering gender equality and diversity in their businesses and society.
- The project relies on the collaboration and support of various actors working on girls’ empowerment and gender equality at the national or local level, such as schools, teachers, parents, media, civil society organisations, universities, research centres.
For more information about the project, check:
- project’s website https://www.inspiring-girls.it/
- ValoreD website https://valored.it/en/projects/inspiringirls/
Consulta delle Donne
- Objective
- Target group
- Implementation
- Results/Impact
- Lessons learned
- Transferability
- Resources/Support
- Contact information
- To enhance the presence, culture and activity of women in society and institutions.
- To support women’s’ opportunities in work, politics, and society.
- To promote interventions against all forms of exclusion and violence against women as well as actions aimed at safeguarding women’s health.
- To enhance and support the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Women from civil society, business, academia, media, politics, and culture – regardless of their social, ethnic, political and religious affiliation.
Consulta delle donne initiative runs in several Italian municipalities to foster dialogue and exchange among women from different backgrounds and sectors on topics related to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Consulta delle Donne is defined as a consultative and proactive body of a participatory nature, which operates in the field of Equal Opportunities and non-discrimination, with the aim of promoting actions to enhance women’s participation in the political and administrative domain of each Municipality (Campagnola Emilia, Valmontone, Piemonte, Rivoli, etc). It is composed of an Assembly, a Coordination Committee, and a President, who are elected by the members of the Consultation every two years.
The main actions carried out by this body are:
- Provide opinions, proposals and suggestions to the Municipal Council or the Executive Board on social, political, or civil issues related to women, such as the promotion of equal opportunities, respect and dignity of the person, youth distress, school services, health protection and environmental protection.
- Promote surveys on the needs of women, indicating improvements and solutions to allow their full integration into social, economic and political life and a conscious development of their roles.
- Promote initiatives and events to enhance the presence, culture and activity of women in society and institutions, such as seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, etc.
- Collaborate with other institutions, associations and social realities of the territory that share the same objectives and values.
Consulta delle Donne is a relatively new initiative and there is not much data available online.
Surveys conducted throughout the websites have covered topics such as work-life balance, health, education, violence, discrimination, participation, and leadership.
The events have attracted many attendees and featured prominent speakers such as Laura Boldrini, former president of the Chamber of Deputies; Emma Bonino, former minister of foreign affairs; and Monica Maggioni, president of RAI.
Women’s empowerment and well-being is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a participatory and inclusive approach that considers the diversity and specificity of women’s experiences and needs.
- The initiative has contributed to raising awareness and generating public debate on gender issues in Italy.
- The initiative has provided valuable inputs for policy making and advocacy on gender equality and women’s rights.
- Creating a platform for dialogue and exchange among women can foster solidarity, mutual support, and collective action among women from different backgrounds, sectors, and regions.
- Engaging women in online surveys can provide valuable insights into their opinions, preferences, expectations, and challenges on various issues affecting their lives and rights.
- Organising online and offline events can create opportunities for networking, learning, and advocacy among women participants and experts on women’s empowerment and well-being.
- The initiative has faced some difficulties in reaching out to women from marginalised groups and ensuring their representation and participation.
The initiative is designed to be adaptable to different contexts and needs of women in different countries and regions.
The initiative relies on voluntary contributions and partnerships with civil society organisations and various stakeholders working on women’s empowerment and well-being in Italy, such as women experts, leaders, influencers, media professionals, civil society representatives, academics, politicians, activists.
For more information about the initiative, visit the following websites:
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.