13 July 2017
A new forum is being established to try and ensure that the members of the States Assembly reflect the Island's population.
Deputy Louise Doublet and the Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst will work together to establish the States Assembly Diversity Forum. The other members are Deputies Anne Pryke and Sam Mezec.
In the current States Assembly 12 out of 49 elected Members women, and none from Jersey's Portuguese or Polish communities. It is acknowledged that more needs to be done to make sure that the make up of Jersey's parliament represents all Island communities and interests.
The immediate priorities of the forum in the next year are to:
- encourage more women candidates to stand in the 2018 election.
- make connections with Jersey's Portuguese, Polish and other minority communities to encourage greater participation in the 2018 election.
- raise the profile of the work undertaken by States Members and the characteristics, skills and experiences which States Members bring to the role, in order to encourage a broader range of candidates to come forward for election.
- produce and gain agreement to a policy on maternity, paternity, parental, adoption and caring leave for States Members.
- initiate an Inter-Parliamentary Union Gender Sensitive Parliament audit of the States Assembly
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