[state] women’s political participation

Afghanistan: Working women in Kandahar Province subjected to constant threats

Work outside the home in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province has become almost impossible for women due to constant threats and intimidation by insurgents. Convinced she will be killed if she continues to defy the threats, 39-year-old Ranna Tareen, director of Kandahar’s women’s affairs department and a well-known women’s rights activist, has decided to leave Kandahar and run for parliament in Kabul.

Comores: Ouani vient d’offrir à l’ile sa première femme maire

Décidément, OUANI (WANI) n’arrête pas de surprendre quand il s’agit de donner des leçons en promotion du genre aux COMORES. En effet, en 1992, les électeurs de la 9eme circonscription regroupant la ville de OUANI et les villages de BARAKANI et GNANTRAGA situés au nord de l’ile d’ANJOUAN (NDZUWANI) avaient offert à notre pays la première femme élue Député . C’est ce qui avait permis à Madame Sittou Raghadat de devenir la première femme Ministre et député des COMORES.

Maroc: L’expérience de la femme marocaine dans le domaine de la justice

L’ouverture du congrès «Témoignages de la réussite de la femme arabe en matière de justice» au siège de la Ligue arabe au Caire, par une magistrate marocaine constitue une reconnaissance de l’expérience pionnière du Maroc, premier pays arabe a avoir conféré à la femme des postes de responsabilité au sein du système judiciaire. En effet, l’Amicale de la femme arabe en Egypte, initiatrice de ce congrès (11/12 avril) a choisi Mme El Batoul Naciri, membre Conseiller et présidente de chambre à la Cour suprême, pour intervenir lors de la séance inaugurale et évoquer l’expérience de la femme marocaine dans le domaine de la justice.

Afghanistan: Attack on female politician highlights growing risk to women

The shooting of a female Afghan politician on Monday demonstrates the fragility of the modest gains made by Afghan women after the fall of the Taleban, Amnesty International said on Thursday. Nida Khyani, a female Provincial Council member, was left in critical condition after being attacked in a drive-by shooting in Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital of Baghlan in northern Afghanistan. "Nida Khyani is yet another casualty of the systematic violent targeting of women in public life in Afghanistan," said Sam Zarifi, Director of Amnesty International's Asia Pacific programme.

Kuwait: Interview with Member of Parliament Dr. Rola Dashti

Arab Reform Bulletin (ARB): Since the election of the current parliament in May 2009, relations between the parliament and the government seem to have improved, after many episodes in which the parliament was dissolved. In December, the prime minister agreed to be questioned by the parliament for the first time. Have relations changed and, if so, why?

Sri Lanka: Women & the Presidential Manifestos

The manifestos, called Mahinda Chintanaya II in the case of the incumbent President and The Common Minimum Plan in the case of General Sarath Fonseka, have now been released to the public. In an election short on substantive issues and characterized by mud-slinging by both sides, these documents provide the voter an idea of the programmes both candidates wish to prioritize.

UN: Gender stereotypes continue to limit women’s progress

The unequal sharing of responsibilities between men and women reflects stereotypical assumptions about the role of women and men in society – and the stubborn persistence of those assumptions,” Ms. Migiro told the Spain-Africa conference in Valencia on Saturday.Women continue to bear disproportionate responsibility for often unappreciated care-giving work in households and communities, despite significant progress in gender equality and women empowerment during the past 15 years, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has said.

UPDATE: Egypt: Constitutional Court Supports Female Judges

Egypt’s Constitutional Court backed the right of women to sit on the bench in the state’s administrative courts, despite conservatives’ opposition, state media reported Monday. The ruling follows a dispute in the State Council, the top administrative court, over whether women should be appointed to the courts. The Constitutional Court’s ruling, issued Sunday, said that all citizens were equal before the law. Update on Egypt: Open All Judicial Positions to Women

Algérie: 8 mars : Sans laïcité pas d’égalité !

PARTI pour la LAICÏTE et la DEMOCRATIE (P-L-D) « Pour une Algérie Républicaine Moderne et Sociale » : Cette année, le 8 mars revêt une importance symbolique toute particulière. Nous en commémorons le centenaire depuis que Clara Zetkin, leader emblématique du combat des femmes a décidé d’en faire un évènement de portée universelle. Depuis, les luttes féminines se sont élargies à toute la planète et ont investi tous les domaines de la vie.

Saudi Arabia: New law will end male dominance in Saudi courts

Saudi Arabia's justice minister says his department is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court for the first time. Mohammed Al-Eissa told reporters on Saturday the bill will be issued in the coming days as part of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s “plan to develop the justice system.” The law would mark a major step for female lawyers in the Kingdom. Currently, women law graduates can work in government offices and in court offices, but cannot argue cases before court. Under the new law, women would be allowed to argue cases on child custody, divorce and other family-related issues.