WOMEN MAKING PROGRESS IN ALBANIA

Recently I co-signed a letter with my colleagues in the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee to the Albanian Parliament. We congratulated the Parliament for passing a new Gender Equality Law which included gender quotas of 30% for women. We wrote at the request of women's organisations in Albania and asked the Parliament to maintain the gender quotas in the upcoming reform of the Albanian Electoral Code.

The Committee has recently heard back from one of the women's organisations. I have copied the letter below. It is great to hear that our work has helped the situation of women in the Balkans.

'I am writing to say a HUGE thank you for your support to women’s organisations in Albania. The letter you sent to the Albanian Parliament was distributed shortly before the vote took place on the revised Electoral Code and greatly contributed to the outcome. On 20th November, the Committee voted in favour of a 30% gender quota. This is truly a historical moment in Albanian history for women’s rights and gender equality.

Thank you so much for your support and for the great difference you have made.'

CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES STILL MOST LIKELY TO BE MALE

As someone thoroughly committed to Electoral Reform, I'd like to recommend the following briefing. It's certainly worth subscribing to.

http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/downloads/wpe27.pdf

Stories in this bulletin include: Conservative Candidates still most likely to be male - no surprise there then!

AND

Global Gender Gap 2008 showing there's plenty more work and campaigning for me to do.... have a read.