Belarus

House of Representatives Council of the Republic

House of Representatives

Political system: Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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: 1991
Year of first woman in parliament: 1990

Notes: 1990: The Soviet Supreme of the SSR of Belarus became the first legislature of Belarus after the country became independent on 25 August 1991. Belarus women were previously elected to the Supreme Soviet of the SSR of Belarus and to the Parliament of the USSR. Elections just before independence
Year of first woman speaker: 2019

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1991
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, under Soviet administration women in Belarus were granted universal suffrage on 4 February 1919, when Belarus was a part of the USSR. In the RSFSR which, at the time claimed sovereignty over Belarus, women were granted the right to vote in 1918. This right was confirmed at independence.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1919
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: No information available