‘We need to give priority to the efforts to reach gender equality’ – Plaid AM

WALES is “a long way short” of being equal in terms of gender, according to a Plaid Cymru AM who led a debate on the issue in the National Assembly.

Sian Gwenllian said: “We need to give priority to the efforts to reach equality.

“In 1918 women got the vote for the first time – but bear in mind it was only women over 30 years of age who owned land who were allowed to vote.”

Ms Gwenllian made the point that equality in terms of voting wasn’t achieved until 1928.

Looking at Wales today, she said the gender pay gap between men and women was around 15%, increasing to 25% in certain parts of the economy.

According to official figures, 27% of women in England and Wales will suffer domestic abuse in their lifetimes, twice as much as men at 13%.

Sexual harassment was also a significant problem for women, said Ms Gwenllian, who said there was a need for a “cultural, social solution”.

Pointing out that the proportion of women AMs had dropped to 42%, Ms Gwenllian said: “We must have 50-50 representation among those taking decisions here in Wales, and that is why I agree entirely with the recent proposals made by the expert panel on Assembly reform, which recommends making a requirement in law for parties to choose candidates on an equal basis in terms of gender.”

Earlier Ukip Wales issued a statement saying: “Moves to enforce gender balance through law is an admission of defeat by ‘progressives.’ It implies that an organisation cannot be reformed at the cultural level and relies upon the compulsion to bring about change.

“Why stop at gender quotas? How about quotas for race, age, creed or a myriad of other characteristics? The list is endless.

“The mind boggles at how they would contend with the different demands of multiple quotas. The permutations quickly become impossibly complicated as each ‘minority’ is to be equally respected.

“Ukip Wales believes in true meritocracy and considers people on their skills alone, irrespective of protected characteristics. We oppose gender quotas on these grounds everywhere.

“We would also like to know which of the current Presiding Officers [Elin Jones and her deputy Ann Jones] is willing to give up her job to a male AM, in order to satisfy a 50-50 quota.”