CEDAW/C/1997/3/Add.3 English Page 30 Philippines Table 37. Participation of women in political life Local communities Legislative power Executive power Municipalities or equivalent Upper and lower chambers Women members of council % 1990-1994 Women mayors % 1990-1994 Seats occupied by women % 1994 Proportion of seats occupied by women % 1994 13 8 25 11 Proportion of seats at the ministerial level occupied by women % 1994 8 45. The Philippines report states that in the field of political rights men and women have attained a formal equality. A de facto inequality persists, however, as regards participation in elections and nomination to public posts. Men continue to occupy the higher-ranking positions in the executive, legislative and judicial branches; women tend to remain at the middle and low level. There are no legal obstacles to their participation in international activities. But socio-cultural factors continue to impede such activities and therefore prevent any real equality of political rights between men and women. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Table 38. Participation of women in political life Local communities Legislative power Executive power Municipalities or equivalent Upper and lower chambers Women members of council % 1990-1994 Women mayors % 1990-1994 Seats occupied by women % 1994 Proportion of seats occupied by women % 1994 - - 2 13 Proportion of seats at the ministerial level occupied by women % 1994 11 46. The report of St. Vincent and the Grenadines states that men and women have equal political rights. Women vote in large numbers but there are much fewer women candidates. The figures quoted above reveal a low level of female participation in political life. But the report is optimistic. It admits the need for greater efforts in the search for real equality. It mentions two parliamentary women as evidence of a certain female participation at the highest levels of decision-making and power. /...