Former president of Chile advocates gender quotas

The under-representation of women at all levels and in all nations is “holding back progress – not just for women but for all members of society,” Michelle Bachelet, United Nations under-secretary general, said yesterday.

Addressing a meeting at the Dublin offices of the National Women’s Council, the former president of Chile, who is executive director of UN Women, said she was “the strongest supporter of transitional measures that level the playing field and increase women’s position in decision making”.

However, she warned that Irish women should beware of “the many tricks that can be used” to stop women being elected and urged political parties, as the “gatekeepers of political participation”, to act to ensure that gender quotas work and more women are elected.

Ms Bachelet told the meeting, which was organised by the NWCI, the 50:50 Group and chaired by Minister of State Kathleen Lynch, that “numbers matter”. Quotas do work, said Ms Bachelet, but the fundamental question is “what is wrong with politics that it is not attractive to women?”

Ms Bachelet added: “Find a woman you believe in and canvass for her.”