As the election nears and the political climate in Jamaica intensifies, members of the Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) Jamaica national chapter urge citizens to pay attention to the number of women running for office compared to their male counterparts.

Recent figures indicate that the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has fielded 19 women candidates out of a total of 63, about 30 per cent, while the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has nominated 22 women, representing roughly 35 per cent of its slate.

While we are grateful for the progress made, we still fall short of the recommended standards for women’s representation in politics. It is essential to consider what the numbers will look like after the election, especially if not all women candidates win their seats.

We take the opportunity to remind the government and the opposition that the CEDAW recommendations and international frameworks have long emphasised the goal of achieving 50 per cent representation for women and 50 per cent for men in decision-making systems. Gender parity is not merely an aspiration; it is a critical component of equitable governance that benefits society as

In 2020, 18 women were elected to parliament, constituting 28.6 per cent of parliamentarians. This figure remains below the critical 30 per cent threshold established in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action during the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995-nearly 30 years ago.

In 1990, the Economic and Social Council adopted a resolution establishing a target of at least 30 percent women in leadership positions by 1995, with the aim of achieving equal representation by the year 2000. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted unanimously in 1995, identified women in power and decision-making as one of its twelve strategic objectives. It called on governments to establish gender balance in governmental bodies, committees, and the judiciary. Furthermore, governments should strive for gender balance in delegations to the UN and other international forums, as well as in lists of candidates nominated for election or appointment to UN bodies and specialized agencies.

Achieving gender parity in Jamaica is essential for fostering inclusive policies that address the needs of all citizens. Therefore, we hope that the government will take this commitment seriously, not only by nominating women as Members of Parliament and Councillors but also by promoting them to boards and other agencies. This commitment to gender parity will ultimately lead to a more representative and effective government that reflects the diversity of our society.

CIWiL Jamaica wishes success to all women candidates in the upcoming general election.