Yemen

Shura Council

Political system: Transitional 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: 1967
Year of first woman in parliament: 1990

Notes: 1990: At reunification, the two parliaments of North and South Yemen joined to form the new, united legislature; therefore, different members were elected differently and details of these proceedings are unavailable; before reunification, in 1971, 9 women were appointed to the 101-member unicameral parliament of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen); the Arab Republic of Yemen (North Yemen) never had a woman MP
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: 1967
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: No information available

Women’s right to vote: 1970
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: No information available

Women’s right to vote: 1990
National or local: National
Restricted or universal suffrage: Universal

Notes: Prior to the unification, women were granted the right to vote in 1967 in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and 1970 in the Arab Republic of Yemen, that became indepedent in 1967 and 1918 respectively. This right was confirmed at unification.

Women’s right to stand for election

Women's right to stand for election: 1990
National or local: National
Restricted or universal: Universal

Notes: Prior to the unification, women were granted the right to vote and stand for election in 1967 in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and 1970 in the Arab Republic of Yemen, that became indepedent in 1967 and 1918 respectively. These rights were confirmed at unification.