Gender Quotas Database
Haiti
Caribbean
Single / Lower House
Chambre des Députés / Chamber of Deputies
| Total seats | 119 |
| Total women | 0 |
| Percentage of women | 0% |
| Election year | 2015 |
| Electoral system | TRS |
| Quota type | Reserved seats |
| Election details | IDEA Voter Turnout - IPU Parline |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Reserved seats | Constitution |
The principle of the quota of at least thirty percent (30%) of women is recognized at all levels of national life, notably in the public services. (Article 17-1) Any law concerning the Political Parties must reserve in its structures and in its mechanisms of functioning a treatment in conformity with the principle of the quota of at least thirty percent (30%) of women as expressed in Article 17-1. (Article 31-1-1) |
| Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties related to gender equality among candidates? | Yes |
"During parliamentary elections, a political party or political group which presents at least fifty percent (50%) of female candidates and succeeds in electing half of them will benefit from a twenty-five percent (25%) increase in public funding at the next legislative election." Source: Article 129 , Decret Electoral, 2015 See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database |
| Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? | Yes, reduced nomination fee |
"The party or political group that registers 30% of women will benefit from a 40% discount on registration fees." Source: Article 92.1, Decret Electoral, 2015 See more in International IDEA's Political Finance database |
Upper House
Sénat / Senate
| Total seats | 10 |
| Total women | 0 |
| Percentage of women | 0% |
| Election year | 2017 |
| Electoral system | |
| Quota type | Reserved seats |
| Election details | IPU Parline |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Reserved seats | Constitution |
The principle of the quota of at least thirty percent (30%) of women is recognized at all levels of national life, notably in the public services. (Article 17-1) Any law concerning the Political Parties must reserve in its structures and in its mechanisms of functioning a treatment in conformity with the principle of the quota of at least thirty percent (30%) of women as expressed in Article 17-1. (Article 31-1-1) |
Quota at the Sub-National Level
| Quota type | Legislated Candidate Quotas |
| Legal source | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Quota type: Legislated Candidate Quotas | Constitution |
The principle of the quota of at least thirty percent (30%) of women is recognized at all levels of national life, notably in the public services. (Article 17-1) Any law concerning the Political Parties must reserve in its structures and in its mechanisms of functioning a treatment in conformity with the principle of the quota of at least thirty percent (30%) of women as expressed in Article 17-1. (Article 31-1-1) |
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.
Additional information
While the Constitution recognized the general principle of a minimum 30% quota for women at all levels, the implementing legislation is necessary to translate this general provision into practical electoral and other mechanisms. Currently, no legislation relating to elections or political parties provides for such a mechanism.
The Union of Social Democrats of Haiti (Parti fusion des sociaux-démocrates haïtiens) has a 25% quota for women, but has not been represented in Parliament since the 2006 elections.
"Haiti is simultaneously facing a political crisis and a humanitarian one. Haitian president Jovenal Moïse was assassinated on 7 July 2021 by a group of mercenaries, destabilizing an already precarious political situation and plunging the country’s future into uncertainty" (UN Women).
Haiti has been experiencing political challenges such as civil protests, gang violence, the assassination of the former President Moïse in 2021 and the government’s failure to organise legislative elections. The political challenges of the country have deepened since the last 10 remaining senators left office as their terms expired on 10 January 2023. This left the country without a single democratically elected government official. Since Haiti has no functioning parliament, the legislated candidate quotas stipulated in the Constitution cannot be implemented/are not applicable.
Sources
Legal Sources:
Other Sources:
- Parliament of Haiti - Link
- Lassègue, M. J. 2011. Towards a female quota: Supporting Haiti's newly adopted constitutional amendment. Feature Article. International IDEA.
Haiti left with no elected government officials as it spirals towards anarchy
Haiti Now Has No Elected Officials As Political Crisis Deepens
Senators' departure leaves Haiti without an elected government
Additional reading
- See the latest updates on Haiti on iKNOW Politics
- Moore, S.S. 2020. Between the state and the yard: gender and political space in Haiti, Gender, Place & Culture. doi:10.1080/0966369X.2020.1846500
- Tøraasen, M. (June 30, 2020). Women’s Status in Haiti Ten Years After the Earthquake.
- Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean: Haiti. (Official website)
- International IDEA. 2014. Towards genuine application of the gender quota in Haiti: the importance of strengthening the capacity of women in political parties.
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