A leading member of the influential advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the number of women deputies in the NPC has stagnated for decades and women need greater representation, says an article in the Irish Times. Excerpts:

Zhang Liming, an official at the All China Women's Federation and a member of the CPPCC, told the media that the proportion of female NPC deputies has remained constant at about 21 percent over the past three decades.

The figure is comparatively low in international terms, short of the European Union average of about a quarter. However, it is considerably higher than Ireland, where only 15 percent of the members of the Dil are women.

Li Zhiyong, vice-head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told a conference panel discussion that he would actively encourage central authorities to increase the ratio of women in the legislature and political advisory bodies.

(China Daily 03/13/2012 page10)