Positive discrimination is also partly to blame for the general rise in unemployment since 1994.
It had too readily abandoned the idea of positive discrimination, he told a meeting.
And judgments on other highly political cases, on positive discrimination and on immigration, are expected before the election.
His opponents say that the price of positive discrimination will be higher taxes.
Mr Davies said he was fully committed to positive discrimination to encourage more women to get involved in public life.
This was the case with VP Singh, who as prime minister (1989-90) redefined policies on positive discrimination in government employment.
But no country, until now, has sought to enshrine the principle of positive discrimination, let alone equality, in its constitution.
Nigel Utton, of Kent Primary Head Teachers Executive, said positive discrimination was the only way to achieve a 50-50 gender balance.
As this amounts to positive discrimination in favour of those from poorer homes, some have criticised this as "dumbing down" university entrance.
Acpo says this differs from "positive discrimination", which it says means hiring minorities regardless of whether they are qualified for a job.
Bill Clinton is too worried about the fact that the majority of Americans dislike positive discrimination to put up much of a fight.
In return for the votes of the young, Mr Lagos is offering positive discrimination for the disadvantaged, as an alternative to reliance on trickle-down economics.
Mr Sarkozy, against republican tradition, favours positive discrimination for ethnic minorities.
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Against this background, white complaints about positive discrimination can sound ridiculous.
He sought assurances that measures designed to promote "positive action" - ensuring equal treatment for those with certain "protective characteristics" such as race or sexual orientation - would not lead instead to positive discrimination.
But it undermined the popularity both of the Concertacion government of President Eduardo Frei, a plodding and uninspired Christian Democrat, and of Mr Lagos, who ran a worthy but old-fashioned campaign, promising voters a fairer society, built gradually through positive discrimination for the disadvantaged, better state education and improved health services.
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But having looked at the other side and at the great new intake of women who frankly have been one of the biggest disappointments of this Parliament, the last thing I want to see is positive discrimination, I want to see us actively address the problem, I want to see us encouraging, I want to see us trying to break down barriers.
In response, the state government has made two of the three local Pardhi sub-tribes eligible for positive-discrimination measures.
Racial appeals often win votes, but discrimination, positive or otherwise, rarely does much for race relations, or for prosperity.
He also expressed his intent to end employment discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation and end the travel ban that forbids HIV-positive people from entering America.
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