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Gender Quotas Database

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Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Central America

Nicaragua has a Unicameral parliament with legislated quotas for the single/lower house and at the sub-national level. 49 of 91 (54%) seats in the Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly are held by women.

At a glance

Structure of parliament Unicameral

Are there legislated quotas

For the Single / Lower house? Yes
For the Upper house? No
For the Sub-national level? Yes

Are there voluntary quotas?

Adopted by political parties? No
Is there additional information? Yes

Single / Lower House

Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly

Total seats 91
Total women 49
Percentage of women 54%
Gender Quota target 50%
Election year 2021
Electoral system List PR
Quota type Legislated Candidate Quotas
Election details IDEA Voter Turnout - IPU Parline
Legal source Details
Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas Electoral law

Electoral law. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Article 68.
... Political parties or alliances of political parties participating in the elections for deputies of the National Assembly and the Central American Parliament, as well as regional and municipal representatives, must present fifty percent (50%) of their candidate lists of men and fifty percent (50%) of women, arranged equally and alternately.
Legal sanctions for non-compliance Electoral law

Electoral law. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Article 142.
If any political party or alliance of political parties fails or refuses to make the adjustments indicated to ensure the male-female ratio required by law in the final lists of elected officials, the Supreme Electoral Council shall be obliged to proceed ex officio.
Rank order/placement rules Electoral law

Electoral law. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Article 141.
A fifty percent (50%) balance between women and men must be ensured in the final lists of those elected in the elections for deputies to the National Assembly, the Central American Parliament, members of autonomous regional councils, and municipal councilors.

To ensure the principle of gender equality and practice, the total number of tickets or seats to be elected in each national or regional election shall be used as the basis for making the necessary adjustments. When necessary, the Supreme Electoral Council will require each political party or alliance of political parties to reverse the male-female, female-male order in the elected formulas necessary to ensure the gender equality and practice mandated by law.
Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties related to gender equality among candidates? No See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database
Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? No See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database
Sources Additional information Contact us

Quota at the Sub-National Level

Quota type Legislated Candidate Quotas
Gender Quota target 50%
Legal source Details
Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas Electoral law

Electoral law. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Article 68.
... Political parties or alliances of political parties participating in the elections for deputies of the National Assembly and the Central American Parliament, as well as regional and municipal representatives, must present fifty percent (50%) of their candidate lists of men and fifty percent (50%) of women, arranged equally and alternately.
Legal sanctions for non-compliance Electoral law

Electoral law. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Article 142.
If any political party or alliance of political parties fails or refuses to make the adjustments indicated to ensure the male-female ratio required by law in the final lists of elected officials, the Supreme Electoral Council shall be obliged to proceed ex officio.
Rank order/placement rules Electoral law

Electoral law. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Article 141.
A fifty percent (50%) balance between women and men must be ensured in the final lists of those elected in the elections for deputies to the National Assembly, the Central American Parliament, members of autonomous regional councils, and municipal councilors.

To ensure the principle of gender equality and practice, the total number of tickets or seats to be elected in each national or regional election shall be used as the basis for making the necessary adjustments. When necessary, the Supreme Electoral Council will require each political party or alliance of political parties to reverse the male-female, female-male order in the elected formulas necessary to ensure the gender equality and practice mandated by law.
Sources Additional information Contact us

Voluntary Political Party Quotas*

Party Official Name Details, Quota provisions
No data available.

* Only political parties represented in parliament are included. When a country has legislated quotas in place, only political parties that have voluntary quotas that exceed the percentage/number of the national quota legislation are presented in this table.

Sources Additional information Contact us

Additional information

Previously, the 2008 electoral law ensured gender equality in the exercise of civil and political rights at all levels, including the promotion of the measures necessary to increase women’s participation in the electoral processes at all levels.

Under the new law, political parties and civil society organizations shall seek the equal participation of women and men in decision-making positions and procedures, by ensuring that their statutes guarantee effective democratic participation in the election procedures of their authorities and candidates. This does not invalidate the academic, intellectual and ethical requirements, or the capacities and experience required to be candidates or applicants for these positions (Articles 8–12).

The percentage of women is calculated from the current number of seats occupied in the parliament. The National Assembly has 92 statutory seats. 

 

Sources

LEGAL SOURCES:

OTHER SOURCES:

  • Parliament of Nicaragua - Link
  • Htun, M. N., Participación, Representación y Liderazgo Político de la Mujer en América Latina [Women’s political participation, representation and leadership in Latin America], Issue Brief (Washington, DC: Women’s Leadership Conference of the Americas, 1998), accessed 24 April 2018;
  • Samqui, E. M., ‘Participación política de la mujeres: ¿caminamos o vamos dando traspiés?’ [Political participation of women: we walked or stumbled?], in B. Llanos and K. Sample (eds), Del dicho al hecho: manual de buenas practicas para la participación de mujeres en los partidos políticos latinoamericanos [From words to action: best practices for women’s participation in latin american political parties]] (Stockholm: International IDEA, 2008), accessed 24 April 2018
 

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