Participation of Women in Elections Highlighted

July 30, 2005 – (Angola Press Agency) Women participation in elections in Angola is an important factor, not only for representing 51 percent of the population, but for being the ones who control the informal market.

This was said Friday in Luanda by the chairwoman of the Women Network, Júlia Ornelas.

Júlia Ornelas was addressing a talk directed to the Angola Press Agency (Angop) women journalists, as part of the events marking the African Woman Day, July 31.
According to "Rede Mulher" chairwoman, in the country, especially in Luanda, there are women in the informal sector, such as hawkers, who can alter behaviours in Angola.

"Democracy brought to Angola new opportunities for the achievement of women, new spaces of professional intervention have emerged, with highlight to access to magistracy, diplomatic and administrative career", said Júlia Ornelas.

The official believes that a bigger female participation in politics might contribute to the introduction of new themes and priorities in the political agendas.

"Although 51 percent of the population are women, they are sub-represented in all decisive organs. Only 29 out of a total of 220 deputies, two of a total of 27 ministers and 10 deputy ministers are women, existing three ambassadors, three consul general and three assistant ministers ", she explained.

Women participation in the provincial governments is also limited, with only two vice-governors, due to the comparative absence in the hierarchy of the political parties besides limitation of time that hold them from competing on equal terms in the political sphere, she added.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200508010299.html