Senegal

National Assembly

Political system: Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
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: 1960
Notes: No information available
Year of first woman in parliament: 1963
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: Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, under French administration, women gained the right to vote by the decree of 19 February 1945 which states that there is no difference between Senegalese women and French women in their right to vote. "les femmes sénégalaises sont électrices et éligibles dans les mêmes conditions que les femmes orginaires de France." In 1956 women were granted the right to vote to local elections by the loi-cadre Deferre. This right was confirmed at independence.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1960
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Universal

Notes: Women gained the right to stand for electiom at the national level in 1960 with the first Constitution of Senegal. According to the decree of 19 February 1945, the same conditions apply to the political rights of both Senagalese and French women. "Les femmes sénégalaises sont électrices et éligibles dans les mêmes conditions que les femmes orginaires de France."