What are the distinctive features of an inclusive parliament?
An inclusive parliament is one which demonstrates a social diversity which is appropriate to the nation and reassures minorities and indigenous peoples, women and other oppressed communities that they have a substantive role in decision making. It is a parliament which celebrates difference and sees the benefits of utilizing the talents of all the members and groups within its society. It is a legislative body which looks beyond mere quotas to draw minority communities into committees, leadership roles, and the secretariat of parliament. The minority members of an inclusive parliament may represent defined ethnic parties or they may be members of multi-ethnic parties but in either regard they can be legitimate representatives of the minority community from which they are drawn. They draw their legitimacy from having significant popular support in such communities.
