Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ULAANBAATAR97
2008-02-27 08:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REFUSES TO HEAR COMPLAINT OVER
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UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PGOV SOCI MG
SUBJECT: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REFUSES TO HEAR COMPLAINT OVER
WOMEN-CANDIDATES QUOTA
REF: ULAANBAATAR 0003
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PGOV SOCI MG
SUBJECT: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REFUSES TO HEAR COMPLAINT OVER
WOMEN-CANDIDATES QUOTA
REF: ULAANBAATAR 0003
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) SUMMARY: Mongolia's Constitutional Court has declined to hear
a complaint over Parliament's controversial elimination of a
requirement that at least 30 percent of any party's candidates for
national elections be women. A court official communicated this
decision on February 19 to J.Zanna, who had filed the request on
behalf of a number of women's rights organizations. The National
Network of Mongolian Women's NGOs said it would protest the court's
decision by carrying out a nationwide signature drive between March
6 and 8, under the theme, "equal participation, fair representation,
responsible politics." Separately, a group of women led by
psychologist B.Saranchimeg announced on February 21 that it was
seeking to register a new political party - the Women's Party - with
the Supreme Court, ahead of June 29 Parliamentary elections. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) Mongolia's Constitutional Court has refused to hear a
complaint over Parliament's December 26, 2007 scrapping of a
requirement that at least 30 percent of any party's candidates for
national elections be women. A court official conveyed the decision
on February 19 to J.Zanna, who had filed the request January 31 on
behalf of a number of women's rights groups. The complaint argued
that in eliminating the quota (reftel),Parliament violated several
constitutional provisions and principles. Zanna did not make clear
whether she would exercise her right to appeal the court's
decision.
3. (U) The National Network of Mongolian Women's NGOs (MonFemNet)
said that in protest against the court's decision, it would carry
out a nationwide signature campaign between March 6 and 8, under the
theme, "equal participation, fair representation, responsible
politics." In Ulaanbaatar, the group said, the campaign will be
centered at Sukhbaatar Square, where an audacious protest in late
1989 set the country on a path toward democracy.
4. (U) At a recent MonFemNet event that brought together women's
activists from nine provinces, activists issued a statement which
said that the scrapping of the quota "was dictated by the desire of
incumbent male Parliamentarians to hold on to their political power
at all costs."
5. (U) A group of women led by psychologist B.Saranchimeg announced
on February 21 that it was seeking to register a new political party
- the Women's Party - with the Supreme Court, ahead of the June 29
Parliamentary elections. The group said its effort is aimed at
correcting "social defects." It said the party hoped to field three
to five candidates in the elections, and that it had no plans to
form a coalition with any existing, registered party.
6. (U) Women currently hold five of the 76 seats in Parliament;
three of the 16 Cabinet positions; and seven of the 17 seats on the
Supreme Court.
MINTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PGOV SOCI MG
SUBJECT: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REFUSES TO HEAR COMPLAINT OVER
WOMEN-CANDIDATES QUOTA
REF: ULAANBAATAR 0003
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (U) SUMMARY: Mongolia's Constitutional Court has declined to hear
a complaint over Parliament's controversial elimination of a
requirement that at least 30 percent of any party's candidates for
national elections be women. A court official communicated this
decision on February 19 to J.Zanna, who had filed the request on
behalf of a number of women's rights organizations. The National
Network of Mongolian Women's NGOs said it would protest the court's
decision by carrying out a nationwide signature drive between March
6 and 8, under the theme, "equal participation, fair representation,
responsible politics." Separately, a group of women led by
psychologist B.Saranchimeg announced on February 21 that it was
seeking to register a new political party - the Women's Party - with
the Supreme Court, ahead of June 29 Parliamentary elections. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) Mongolia's Constitutional Court has refused to hear a
complaint over Parliament's December 26, 2007 scrapping of a
requirement that at least 30 percent of any party's candidates for
national elections be women. A court official conveyed the decision
on February 19 to J.Zanna, who had filed the request January 31 on
behalf of a number of women's rights groups. The complaint argued
that in eliminating the quota (reftel),Parliament violated several
constitutional provisions and principles. Zanna did not make clear
whether she would exercise her right to appeal the court's
decision.
3. (U) The National Network of Mongolian Women's NGOs (MonFemNet)
said that in protest against the court's decision, it would carry
out a nationwide signature campaign between March 6 and 8, under the
theme, "equal participation, fair representation, responsible
politics." In Ulaanbaatar, the group said, the campaign will be
centered at Sukhbaatar Square, where an audacious protest in late
1989 set the country on a path toward democracy.
4. (U) At a recent MonFemNet event that brought together women's
activists from nine provinces, activists issued a statement which
said that the scrapping of the quota "was dictated by the desire of
incumbent male Parliamentarians to hold on to their political power
at all costs."
5. (U) A group of women led by psychologist B.Saranchimeg announced
on February 21 that it was seeking to register a new political party
- the Women's Party - with the Supreme Court, ahead of the June 29
Parliamentary elections. The group said its effort is aimed at
correcting "social defects." It said the party hoped to field three
to five candidates in the elections, and that it had no plans to
form a coalition with any existing, registered party.
6. (U) Women currently hold five of the 76 seats in Parliament;
three of the 16 Cabinet positions; and seven of the 17 seats on the
Supreme Court.
MINTON