Closing of NCLW initiative to promote women’s political participation

The National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) held last Friday the closing ceremony to present the accomplishments of the EU-funded “Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women in Lebanon” program including the presentation of an advocacy study promoting the adoption of the women’s representation quota in electoral law. This was followed by a panel discussion on women’s political contribution and the sought for quota system, which was attended by minister of state for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, the head of the EU Delegation, Chrisina Lassen and secretary general of the Women in Parliament Coalition, former minister Wafaa Diqa Hamzeh. In his opening address, NCLW secretary general, Fadi Karam, underlined the program’s achievements in developing NCLW’s capacities and expanding new horizons to ensure outreach to civil society groups. This, Karam maintained, is realized through the “establishment of a national coalition in support of women’s political participation with the aim to adopt the electoral quota.” For her part, former Minister Diqa stressed the main purpose of the said coalition which is the inclusion of at least 30% women’s quota in the upcoming Parliamentary elections, in observance of the democratic and constitutional process which is based on social justice and equality. Similarly, Lassen considered that collaboration between the involved ministry and NCLW is “essential to bring about a full participation of women in the economic, social, political and cultural development of the country.” Ogassapian, in conclusion, said that women’s presence in the government can enrich it. “They can be productive and have impact at all levels, and can become indispensable for advancing the performance of the cabinet,” Ogassapian said. (Al Mustaqbal, March 4, 2017)