Mixed Committee’s Decision on Women’s Reserved Seats in Provincial Councils Elections was Discussed

Women’s Political Rights Advocacy Group held its 17th meeting on Monday 15 July in FEFA to discuss the provision of 25% reserved seats for women in provincial councils elections in the Elections Law, finalize group’s drafted recommendations on the Policy on Duties of Police in Elections and coordinate meeting with the Policy Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs to share the recommendations on the aforementioned policy. Members of the group expressed their concern over the reduction of 5% from the 25% quota for women in provincial councils’ elections. However, the group appreciated the efforts made by some MPs and Senators to preserve the 20% of the reserved seats despite horrendous attempts to utterly eliminate the quota. The group reviewed the recommendations on the Policy of Duties on Police in Elections and by inserting appropriate changes, finalized the proposal. The recommendations further push the Ministry of Interior Affairs to carefully consider special measures for women in the policy. One of the members of the group took responsibility of coordinating meeting with either the Policy Deputy Minister or the Minister himself to share the group’s proposal on the policy of police. At the end of the session it was decided that the group will hold a press conference on 22 July in FEFA to publicly announce its concern over the diminution of reserved seats for women in provincial councils’ elections and to share the recommendations on Voter Registration process and the Policy of Police with the media.