Cabinet and Public Services

Cabinet and Public Services
Although two women Prime Ministers have headed the Government during the last six years and
the leaders of the opposition in Parliament were also women, this does not reflect the gender
composition of participation and decision making at the highest policy level. At the ministerial
level, women’s representation has never risen above 3 percent.
Before 1996, women were never given full responsibility over any important ministry. Apart from
being Prime Minister, others were state or deputy ministers responsible for insignificant ministries
such as Culture, Social Welfare, and Women. Currently one woman Minister, who had become a
Member of Parliament in 1991 and 1996 through direct elections, is responsible for a ministry,
i.e., Agriculture. Another woman minister is responsible for the Ministry of Forest and
Environment.