The study “Political Representation in Municipal Councils After the Implementation of the 50/50 Gender Quota”, published by our cooperation partner, the Albanian Women Empowerment Network (AWEN), sheds light on gender equality in municipal councils, beyond just numerical achievements.
This report investigates the effects of Albania’s 50% gender quota in municipal councils. Following its introduction in 2015, women’s representation in councils tripled, reaching almost 50% by 2023, making Albania a leader in women’s local political representation in Europe. Despite numerical equality, the study reveals significant gender gaps in participation and voice.
Women spoke less frequently and were interrupted 2.5 times more than men during council meetings. Moreover, their involvement in discussions on governance, law enforcement, and transparency declined compared to earlier years, signaling persistent structural and cultural challenges.
These findings suggest that while gender quotas improve numeric representation, they do not automatically translate to substantive equality. Enhanced measures are needed to ensure women’s voices and contributions are equally valued and impactful in political decision-making processes.
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