Democratic Republic of the Congo
Historical data on women
Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government
Women's suffrage
Date of independence
For countries that become independent after 1940
1960
Women’s right to vote
Women’s right to vote
Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1967
National or local
Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage
Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes
Suffrage: Additional Notes on right of suffrage
The ordonnance-loi (Decree-law) regarding Referendum Act N°67-223 of 3 May 1967 recognized the right of all Congolese, irrespective of sex, to participate in the Constitutional referendum. The law on legislative and presidential elections of 17 April 1970 supported suffrage as granted in the Constitution and formally gave both men and women the right to vote.
Women’s right to stand for election
Women's right to stand for election
Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1970
National or local
Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage
Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes
Stand for Election: Additional Notes on right to stand for election
The law on legislative and presidential elections of 17 April 1970 supported suffrage as granted in the Constitution of 1967 and formally gave both men and women the right to stand for election.
First woman in parliament
First woman in parliament
Year in which first woman entered parliament
1970
First woman speaker
Year of first woman speaker
Date at which, for the first time in the country's parliamentary history, a woman became Presiding Officer of Parliament or of one of its Houses.
2019