We
asked several MPs about the status of the gender law. Their answers follow.

S.Lambaa said the proposal for a fixed quota was holding up passage of the law.
He was a member of the working group on the gender law draft in the previous
Parliament and they did not recommend a quota, while the present draft covers a
wider range. He supports the general principles underlying the draft but fears
it will not be approved with the various quotas in place. Quotas cannot often
be met because of an absence of suitable candidates. For example, he referred
to the draft proposal that if the chief anywhere is a man, his deputy would be
a woman and vice versa. “What happens if a suitable woman cannot be found to
work as a deputy?” he asked.

There is no question that gender equality has to be supported and he said
80-90% of employees in the health sector are women. However, some countries
prefer more men in kindergartens because children There can be a 40% quota for
women in Government but this cannot be the norm in all fields.

S.Oyun also agreed that the quota provision seemed to be unacceptable to most
MPs. She said she was a member of the working group that prepared the “quite
sensible” draft. “Unfortunately political compulsions are not allowing the
draft to be approved,” she said.

Her impression was that the most unacceptable
provision was the one relating to a minimum percentage of women candidates for
elections. She has suggested to the working group that for the moment the quota
issue could be kept in abeyance and to proceed with the gender law without it. It
can be discussed after the election law is passed.

J.Sukhbaatar felt the quota for women election candidates will cause conflict
in society.  An election should be a free
competition, unhindered by such forced selection of candidates. He thought it
would be better to implement quotas in gradual stages, a little at a time after
every election.