Few Guatemalan Women Win
Vote
Guatemalan women have
achieved some seats in
the September 9
elections, but their
participation in
political life is still
limited, despite
representing over half
of the population.
According to the Supreme
Electoral Court, women's
participation increased
up to 20 seats in the
Republic's Congress, but
that figure only
represents 12 percent of
158 deputies.
Their participation in
municipal governments
did not rise and only
eight of 332 mayor's
offices will be led by
women.
It was during the 1945
Juan Jose Arevalo
revolutionary government
that for the first time
women had right to vote,
although at that moment
the country excluded
illiterate women and
only 20 years later it
was extended to all.
Only two women have led
the Republic's Congress
in the history of the
country and one headed
the Judiciary
Organization, however,
none have been elected
president or vice
president.
For the first time,
Nobel Peace Prizewinner
indigenous woman
Rigoberta Menchu was
postulated to the
presidency and a
feminist Walda Barrios
aspired to the
presidency, but both
were very far from
winning. |
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