Ulaanbaatar, April 11, 2023 /MONTSAME/. Some representatives of the Women Parliamentarians' Group received representatives of the UNDP, led by the UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia Elaine M. Conkievich on April 10.

UNDP is implementing the “Promoting Gender Equality in Public Decision-Making and Women's Empowerment in Mongolia” project, with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA.). Under the Project, the international Forum with the theme of “Pledge for Equal Representation in Decision-Making,” is being organized in Ulaanbaatar between April 10 and 11.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the significance of the Forum and experiences on gender equality and ensuring women's participation and equal representation in decision-making.

Mentioning the fact that some progress has been made in ensuring gender equality in our country, thanks to the UNDP’s project, the Head of the Women Parliamentarians' Group D. Sarangerel highlighted the significance of this meeting with such professional experts at this pivotal moment when amendments of the Law on the State Great Khural are about to be discussed. The amendments are covering such issues as transitioning to a mixed electoral system and improving the representativeness and inclusiveness of the electoral system. It is expected to be a big leap forward for every endeavor to achieve gender equality in politics.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia Elaine M. Conkievich pointed out the importance of not only the political party leadership and legislative reform for gender- equality in politics, but also the public awareness of gender equality, especially in decision-making. At the meeting, a member of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina Irena Hadžiabdić shared their experiences on ensuring gender equality. As for the candidate quotas, it was legislated that women candidates would account for 30% of the list on the Law in 1998. Yet, according to their amendment in 2013, the quota has been raised, requiring at least 40% of the candidates on the electoral lists to be women.

Then, a former parliament member of the Republic of Latvia Lolita Chigane suggested that the gender quota for women should be set as high as possible to increase the representativeness of women in parliament based on her country’s past experiences.

The meeting was attended by a Member of the Women Parliamentarians' Group and Deputy Chairman, Member of the State Great Hural S. Odontuya, Members of the State Great Khural A. Adiyasuren, B. Bayarsaikhan, Kh. Bulgantuya, B. Jargalmaa, Ts. Munkhtsetseg, D. Unurbolor, Ch Undram, a Regional Electoral Policy Specialist of the UNDP Najia Hashemee, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh and Sociology Program Director for the National Science Foundation Melanie Hughes, a Program Officer of the International IDEA Khushbu Agrawal and an Associate Professor Nottingham University Fernando Casal Bértoa.