UN Women and Observatory for Children and Young people’s rights introduced the findings of the media monitoring report on violence against women and gender inequality during April 25, 2021 parliamentary elections.
The report prepared with the support of the Swedish Government identified the forms of violence against women during the election process, information on gender equality during media coverage of elections.
The CEC representative Mrs. Madalena Koja highlighted as a positive development the legal changes that provide the refusal of multi member lists of candidates when the parties do not respect the gender quota of the underrepresented gender.
She underlined the fact that the amendments to the law on preferential vote and re-ranking of the candidates do not affect the principle of gender representation. For the first time, in the methodology of media monitoring report, adopted by the CEC and approved by AMA, the monitoring of media coverage of the election campaign also reported on gender equality and we have a clear picture on the space dedicated to the candidates.
During the discussion, it was suggested the change of the Electoral Code regarding the free time allotted to electoral subjects so that women candidates are allotted more free space.It was also proposed the revision of the law on political parties in terms of gender representation in the political party bodies. The focus of discussion was continuous awareness of all stakeholders involved in the election process, especially media and political parties.
