A Colombian court annulled the presidential decree signed in February 2021 appointing diego molano What Minister of Defense, alluding that the gender quota law was not respected, and ordered a new appointment that meets 30% of women in ministries.
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The decision, which came to light on April 20 and can be appealed, was made by the Administrative Court of Cundinamarca and declares “the nullity of Decree 134 of February 6, 2021“, with which the president Ivan Duke appointed Molano in the position he currently holds.
In addition, he urges the president to “comply with (…) Law 581 of 2000” for what, “when appointing cabinet ministers“, respect”the minimum quota of 30% of participation of women“in the charges of highest decision-making level of the ministries.
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The Minister of Defense announced, after knowing the sentence, that he will appeal the “judgment that in the first instance declares nullity” of his appointment and assured that, for the time being, he will continue “working for the security of Colombians“.
Molano came to office on February 1, 2021 after the death, on January 26, of his predecessor, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, after contracting covid-19.
At that time there were five women in the 18 ministries (Claudia Blum in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mabel Torres in Science, Technology and Innovation, Karen Abudinen in ICT, María Victoria Angulo in Education and Ángela María Orozco in Transport), that is, they made up 27.7% of the total.
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The Quota Law, passed in 2000, provides that 30% of senior public positions in the country, both at the national level and at the departmental and municipal levels, must be held by women, although it is a percentage that is rarely met.
Duque began his administration in 2018 boasting of having the Most equal government in history, although the number of women in cabinets quickly decreased and there are currently only 6 women (Marta Lucía Ramírez in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, María Victoria Angulo in Education, Carmen Valderrama in ICT, María Ximena Lombana in Commerce, Ángela María Orozco in Transport and Angélica Mayolo in Culture), which does meet 30%.
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EFE
