Anita van der Noord is sure. There are plenty of women who want to become politically active. She is therefore breathing new life into the Drenthe Political Women’s Network, to improve the representation of women in Drenthe politics. “We will actively recruit so that everyone enters the political arena properly.”
Van der Noord, who lives in Roderesch, served on the Noordenveld municipal council on behalf of GroenLinks for six years. They usually found more men than women. The ratio is not much different in the rest of the country. “Not a reflection of society,” said Van der Noord in the Radio Drenthe program Cassata.
According to her, the division really does not have to be fifty-fifty. “I think it is crucial that there is a political system in which women participate equally and can contribute. Ultimately, residents will then have more confidence in politics. People are more likely to support the decisions that a municipal council makes.”
Women also raise other but equally relevant topics, says Van der Noord. “Look at femicide, for example.” She points to Huri Sahin, mayor of Rijswijk, who emerged as a champion after three murders in her municipality within more than a year. Van der Noord: “If it is on the agenda, something will happen.”
The idea that many women consciously avoid politics is an obvious misunderstanding, Van der Noord continues. She recalls a training for women interested in a political career. “The training was full within three days. Then I thought: it is time to breathe new life into the Drenthe Political Women’s Network.”
The network will be launched on January 30, with its own website and a range of training courses. The first results may emerge in a year’s time, when municipal elections are held.
The current distribution in Drenthe municipalities is mainly ‘male’. For example, of the 298 councilors in Drenthe, ‘only’ 100 are women. That percentage (34 percent) is slightly lower than the national average of 36 percent. And of all 48 aldermen in Drenthe, 9 are women; almost 19 percent. Nationally, this was 29 percent after the last municipal elections. Assen, Hoogeveen and Coevorden currently have no women on the council at all.
Van der Noord hopes and counts on improvement. “With our platform, more women become politically active.”
Listen to part of the conversation with Van der Noord below: