Electoral justice and women’s political representation in Mexico

Authors

  • Flavia Freidenberg Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • Karolina Gilas Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18042/cepc/rep.191.05

Abstract

This paper studies an under-explored dimension in neo-institutionalist comparative politics: the role of electoral justice in the protection of women’s rights. Mexico is an excellent case to deepen how the electoral authorities transformed the «gender electoral regime» and increased the political representation of women. It analyzes 9,388 Mexican Electoral Court decisions on protecting women’s political rights issued between 2006 and 2018. This study examines how electoral resolutions have strengthened the electoral design of gender quotas, and boosted their effectiveness through new and progressive interpretation, even though they have also generated certain inconsistencies and contradictory criteria. In the face of partisan resistance, electoral justice is key to the effective monitoring and implementation of affirmative action measures and the principle of gender parity.

Published

2021-03-18

Issue

Section

ARTICLES