Content_paragraphs:  On 26 October, the Constitutional Court permitted 27 political parties to submit 
  
  candidates for the legislative elections despite failing to meet the 35 per cent quota 
  
  for female candidates, acknowledging socioeconomic and other constraints to 
  
  women’s political participation. On 3 December, the Constitutional Court validated 
  
  1,504 candidates, including 234 women (15.59 per cent), an increase of five per cent 
  
  in women’s participation compared to 2015. MINUSCA, with the United Nations 
  
  Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality 
  
  
  
  S/2021/146 
   
  
   
  
  21-01548 4/20 
  
   
  
  and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), established a hotline and a situation 
  
  room dedicated to protecting women candidates and voters from electoral violence.