Jordan Times
Thursday, April 6, 2006
Proposed Elections Law
discussed
AMMAN (Petra) — Parliamentarians and representatives of civil society
institutions on Wednesday reviewed efforts designed to empower women through
legislation.
During a symposium, organised by the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW)
in cooperation with the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) yesterday, the
participants examined several working papers analysing the proposed Elections
Law.
The JNCW hosted the session in order to promote dialogue on different aspects of
the Elections Law, and their effect on the community and the development
process, in addition to the issue of women's quota, JNCW Acting Secretary
General Reem Fariz said.
Through balanced and sensible dialogue, the commission hopes to arrive at a
clear vision on the needs of Jordanian women as voters and candidates, under the
current political, social and economic conditions.
UNIFEM Regional Programme Director Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said women's contribution
to political life in the country is still limited, attributing this to community
barriers. There is need to further empower and encourage women to take part in
political life, she added.
Women were given the right to vote in 1955, while they obtained the right to run
for Parliament in 1974, Abu Ghazaleh said.
Under quota system, women were given six Lower House seats in 2003 in a bid to
increase their contribution to political life.