Trinidad and Tobago

House of Representatives

Political system: Parliamentary system
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: 1962
Year of first woman in parliament: 1962

Notes: 1962: Prior to independence, 1 woman was appointed to the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago in 1946 and 1 was elected in 1961
Year of first woman speaker: 1991

Women’s right to vote

Women’s right to vote: 1962
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, under British administration, women were given the right to vote in 1946. This right was confirmed at indepedence.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1962
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Universal

Notes: Prior to independence, under British administration, women were given the right to vote and stand for election in 1946. These rights were confirmed at indepedence.