The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights was disappointed by the final results of the 2010 mid-term elections of the Shura Council, as only one woman won in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate. These results are to be expected because there were a small number of female candidates and an absence of party support, since failing to nominate women as their party’s candidates. The National Democratic Party nominated only one woman despite this contradicting the election program of President Mubarak, the head of the National Democratic Party.
Moreover, the Tagammu’ Party nominated only one woman in addition to the Ahrar Party that nominated only one woman. Meanwhile, the other parties did not nominate one woman. On the other hand, nine female independents ran in the election without any party affiliation, which is a giant setback not only for women but also for the democracy in Egypt.
This experience itself indicates that it is problematic to depend on the political parties’ support to enhance woman’s political participation. It also leads us to wonder about the reason why the quota system is implemented only in the parliament, for it is necessary to be implemented in all parliamentary councils, including the Shura Council, the People’s Assembly, the local councils and all elected councils. It should be implemented within the students, workers and craft unions, in addition to the chambers of industry and trade and others, in order to quicken the process of incorporating women into the practical life. This is necessary to achieve balance between men and women, which is itself the aim of the associations aiming to establish democracy. Moreover, the implementation of a widespread quota will break the barriers standing in front of women to gain their own opportunities within public life.
Thus, the Egyptian Center for Women Rights Demands:
- President Mubarak revise the policies of the National Democratic Party on implementing his electoral platform concerned with supporting women’s participation. We also request the appointment of a larger number of female members to the Shura Council, in order to reform women’s status since the political parties failed to nominate women themselves.
- A review of the law of practicing political rights and the expansion of the quota system to all elected bodies in Egypt.
- To break the restrictions imposed by partisan actions, and for encouraging the increase of the Egyptian parties’ activity in enhancing and supporting women, because the absence of the parties’ role is the main reason why women’s participation in the practical life is stunted.
