4 Effective Political Participation 15. Despite the 'fact that several steps have been taken to increase women's participation in decision-making, women continue to be underrepresented in politics, political parties, in the Hellenic Parliament and the government and public administration. 16, As of 2000, Greece has been implementing quotas requiring that a third of the persons listed on municipal election voting ballots be women, as well as in the collective bodies of public sector agencies, including service councils of ministries. Governmental actions have been taken to upgrade skills and knowledge of women, their personal empowerment and support, in order to expand their participation in decision-making centres at all levels. 17. Establishment of quota for each sex during National Elections. Art. 3 of Law 3636/2008 on the amendment of Law 3231/2004 on the "election of members of parliament" stipulates that a minimum of a third of the candidates within political parties —nation-wide, not per election region-must be of each sex. 18. During the last elections November 2010 for Municipality Councils and Regional Councils there were 1521 candidates from the area of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. 153 candidates were women from the Muslim minority. 10% of the candidates Muslim women. 19. Muslim women have been elected to municipality bodies and regional bodies. Large difference between figure of women participating in the process and women elected. Fotini Sianou National Representative of Greece to the United Nations on Gender Equality