La Paz, December 2 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Women will make up 48 percent of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, the Bolivian Congress, in the upcoming session from 2015 to 2020.

According to the president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Wilma Velasco, Bolivia is the second country in the world to achieve such a number, with a total of 80 women in both houses of the legislative body.

Representative Betty Yañiquez of the governing Movement Towards Socialism Party (MAS) stated: “Never before we have had laws that are favorable to women. What we have to do is ensure that they are functional, that they are workable, so that there is greater security for us as women, especially the women of MAS. We are going to work with this energy and with this strength in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.”

Bolivia’s new constitution approved by popular referendum in 2009 establishes gender equality in the legislative body as a constitutional right, requiring equal representation and participation in electoral processes. In this year’s election, authorities promoted gender equality with the “50/50, Equality is Now” campaign.

Bolivia’s congressional body was reportedly the first in the world where each of the two chambers were headed by women. President Evo Morales has also made it a priority to appoint an equal number of men and women to his cabinet.