US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1612

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001612 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G/IWI, DRL/PHD, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KWMN, KDEM, SOCI, HO 
SUBJECT: INVISIBLE WOMEN: FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN HONDURAN 
POLITICS LAGS DESPITE QUOTAS 
 
REF: 04 TEGUCIGALPA 1067 
 
1.  In light of the lack of significant numbers of women 
participating in Honduran politics as candidates, the country 
adopted several electoral laws to encourage and facilitate 
women's participation in the electoral process.  The 2000 Law 
of Gender Equality mandated that 30 percent of all candidates 
nominated for public office by recognized political parties 
be women, something supplemented by the 2004 Electoral Law 
mandating a quota of no less than 30 percent participation by 
female candidates on ballots for congress and mayors/city 
councils. 
 
2.  These laws have not had the effects their proponents 
envisioned due to a failure to detail which positions will be 
included in that 30 percent minimum, meaning that many women 
are alternates and not main candidates for office.  At the 
end of 2004, there were only 10 congresswomen (and 12 female 
alternates) in the 128-seat legislature.  The dominant 
traditional parties of Honduras, the National and Liberal 
Parties, were unable to surpass the national quota of 30 
percent in February's primary elections.  In fact, the 
National Party was right at 30 percent, while the Liberal 
Party fell short of the minimum by 1 percent. 
 
3.  This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of women's 
suffrage in Honduras.  Over these fifty years, there has been 
only a slight increase in the number of women elected or 
appointed to top political positions in Honduras (reftel). 
Two of the major factors critics give for the lack of female 
participation are discrimination and anonymity.  Political 
discrimination means women are less likely to receive 
sponsorship from party "bigwigs" to carry out campaigns.  It 
is more difficult for women in politics to receive donations 
and contributions than their male counterparts.  Thus, it is 
harder to gain publicity and move out of the shadow of 
anonymity.  The women who have made it in the political 
sphere are those with money, connections, and already 
recognized public personas.  There are other women who do not 
have the public recognition, but who have vowed to fight to 
ensure that Honduran women have a voice in politics. 
 
4.  Comment:  Legally mandated quotas are unlikely to greatly 
increase women's participation in Honduran politics.  Only 
when female political activists and candidates demand a 
larger role in the electoral process and when female voters 
support them in large numbers (anecdotal reports indicate 
that many female primary voters split their tickets among 
women candidates on different slates) will significant 
advancement by women candidates be achieved.  In the words of 
Liberal Party female activist, Luz Ernestina Mejia, "Women 
must make a space for themselves within the established 
parties and their movements."  End Comment. 
Tuebner