Rwanda has beaten Sweden by getting the highest proportion of women into Parliament, voting them on to 39 seats in the lower chamber of deputies, a level amounting to 48.8% of the seats. In the voting, which began on September 30, women won 15 of the seats that were also open to men.
Sweden’s women hold 45,3% of seats in the country’s single-chamber Parliament. Denmark is third with 38%, followed by Finland with 37,5% and The Netherlands with 36,7%. Britain is in 50th place with 17,9%, and the US house of representatives ties at 60th place with Andorra, with 14,3%.
The voting in Rwanda was the first multiparty legislative election in the country. Previously, Rwandan women had held 25,7% of the seats.
In separate voting for the 26-seat senate, Rwandan women filled only the six seats allotted them by the constitution.
A parliamentary union said it was working to make sure the constitution made many provisions guaranteeing minimum participation by women.
”It is also clear that Rwandan women are enthusiastic about the political process and keen to be party to it.” – Guardian Unlimited Â