Sao Tome and Principe parliament adds 11 women lawmakers
Women now hold 34.5% of seats in the National Assembly following the 2026 legislative elections.
Following the 2026 legislative elections, Sao Tome and Principe's National Assembly will have 19 women among its 55 members, an increase from eight in the previous term. This change raises the proportion of seats held by women from 14.5% to 34.5%. The shift is attributed to the country's 2022 Parity Law, which mandates a minimum 40% representation for each sex on candidate lists.
The Parity Law's implementation was supported by a "Parity Law Monitoring Commission" that reviewed candidate lists and encouraged necessary adjustments. Electoral and judicial authorities, political parties, civil society groups, and women in public life all played roles. Over 72 women from seven political parties and five districts received training in political communication and negotiation.
A network of over 105 individuals, including parliamentarians, party members, and journalists, publicly advocated for parity. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the Japanese government, assisted national institutions and stakeholders throughout the 2026 electoral cycle in applying the new legal framework.