Congo

National Assembly

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

Notes: Non-participating Member (all rights suspended)

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
1960
Year of first woman in parliament
1963

Notes: 1963: Not clear how many got elected and appointed

Year of first woman speaker
Not applicable

Notes: No woman has occupied the function of Speaker in the country.

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote
1960
National or local
National
Restricted or universal suffrage
Restricted
Detail of restrictions
Universal suffrage was granted for Europeans and literate Africans only. In 1951 the right to vote was extended to all those with a credible titre d'identité
Women’s right to vote
1961
National or local
National
Restricted or universal suffrage
Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, under French administration, Congolese women acquired the right to vote under the 29 August 1947 law (N° 47-1629) on territorial assemblies. This electoral system was renewed in 1952 and eventually replaced in 1957 when the framework law (Loi-cadre Deferre) of 1956 was entered into force. According to the CEDAW report, article 4 of the 2 March 1961 Constitution recognized the aforementioned rights.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election
1963
National or local
National
Restricted or universal
No information available

Notes: The right for women to stand for election was recognized by the Constitution adopted on 8 December 1963.

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No