CAIRO: The National Council for Women (NCW) lauded a proposed law that would increase the number of seats occupied by women in the People’s Assembly (PA).
At a press conference Wednesday, the NCW highlighted the importance of the draft law proposed by the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) policies committee, which would raise the number of women’s seats in the PA to at least 56.
NCW Secretary General Farkhonda Hassan began her speech by thanking Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for his attention to women affairs.
“The president has spoken about women and their importance in the society in more than one speech that he gave in both the PA and the Shoura Council, Hassan said.
The draft law proposes amending Article 3 of Law 38 to stipulate that women get at least 56 of the PA’s 454 seats, according to Hassan.
NCW members met on Tuesday and approved the draft law in principle, however, Hassan said that it “only meets our lowest hopes and ambitions as it does not give women permanent and full ability to participate in political life.
She cited the fact that the proposed amendments will specify districts where only female candidates will be nominated, which means that the winner from those districts will surely be a female representative. The ultimate aim, Hassan said, was to open up the number of seats and districts to women without restrictions.
After reviewing the law, Hassan said, the council sent a report with comments to the government.
In the meantime, the NCW will continue training women in political parties on how to run for elections and promoting political participation, she said.
