Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Women constituencies' draft law sparks controversy
Published in Daily News Egypt on 01 - 08 - 2008

CAIRO: The National Democratic Party (NDP) is discussing a draft law that would increase the number of constituencies for both the People s Assembly and the Shoura council - limiting these new constituencies to female candidates only.
Mufid Shehab El Din, minister of Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils, raised the issue in several press statements last week. The new draft law, if it is to be applied, aims at increasing women s representation in both the People s Assembly and Shoura council by allowing them to compete unopposed by male candidates in these constituencies, in addition to the regular elections against men in other constituencies.
In support of the idea, Georgette Qelliney, member of the People s Assembly s legislative committee, told Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper that she has been calling for increasing women s participation in the parliament for the past eight years.
Eight years ago, I proposed a draft law to apply a quota system but it was refused, she said.
Qelliney explained that it is currently very difficult for women to compete against men for a seat in the parliament because the percentage of female representation doesn't exceed 1 percent.
The quota system is a voting system that was devised by the British philosopher Michael Dummett where electors vote by putting candidates in order of preference.
Hassan El Badrawy, chief of the legislative committee at the National Council for Women, told Daily News Egypt that the council is still studying the constitutionality of the idea but haven t agreed on it yet.
He added that the council is studying the best electoral system that guarantees the best representation of women.
Head of El Wafd party, Mahmoud Abaza supports the idea.
It would be a great boost to women s representation and participation in the political life, he said.
Others had a different view of the draft law.
The constitution doesn't differentiate between men and women, however, the new amendments will allow the NDP to do so, Hamdy Hassan, member of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), told Daily News Egypt.
The articles of the constitution conflict, while they gave the government the right to do what it wants; they also set a quota for women and another for Christians, he added.
Hamdy added that political participation needs experience and women should have that before diving into the political arena. Without experience and practice, it will be a mess, he said.
Moreover, several lawmakers deemed the draft law discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Those who call for equality between men and women should know that an idea like this defeats the purpose, Tharwat Badawy, constitutional law professor told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
He described the idea as the worst form of discrimination based on gender.


Clic here to read the story from its source.