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Makhzoumi Foundation at the closing conference on “Women's Participation in the Lebanese Parliamentary Elections – 2009” Project
Makhzoumi Foundation attended closing conference on “Women's Participation in the Lebanese Parliamentary Elections – 2009” Project, held by the Lebanese Council of Women (LCW) in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. This conference was held under the patronage of the Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ziad Baroud, at the Riviera Hotel – Corniche Al Manara, on January 15, 2010, in the presence of a number of deputies and Arab and foreign ambassadors and the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Mr. Nick Rene Hartmann as well as representatives of the civil society.
The LCW President, Dr. Amani Kabbara Shaarani, opened the conference talking about the campaign to activate the participation of women in the parliamentary elections 2009, from March to December 2009, which was in collaboration with women and civil rights organizations to improve women's participation in political life. She pointed to the large gap between reality and aspirations, as the participation of women but not because of legal obstacles in the way of equality established in the Lebanese Constitution and the laws, they are still confronted frameworks and political organizations, and visions of rigid cultural and social consequences of conduct and governing practices.
Mr. Hartman then gave a word stressing the need for Lebanese women to play a major role in governance in Lebanon in order to support the citizenship efforts and to promote the sustainable development in Lebanon.
Finally, Minister Baroud announced that his ministry will submit to the Council of Ministers a draft law including amendments to the provisions of the municipalities electoral law stating clearly the adoption of 30% quota for women for each municipality in the forthcoming elections, stressing that without an affirmative action (ie, quota) there would be no chance for improving woman’s participation and for activating her role in life.
During the conference, a documentary on the activities of the Lebanese Women's Council and on the opinions of some MPs, ministers and clergy in the field of women's rights regarding political participation and giving citizenship to their children.
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