LISA presses for adoption of women’s quota in electoral laws in Lebanon

The Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs (LISA) emphasised yesterday the need to adopt the women’s quota system in elections and for a transitional period in order to rectify the present gender gap which is deep-rooted in political life as a result of cultural and social norms. A number of recommendations were issued following the LISA meeting which was held under the title: ‘Strengthening the Role of Women in Political Life’ which called for the following:: encourage the formation of a broad coalition that will act as a pressure group to achieve equal gender representation in all areas;  focus on political parties in order to readdress the present unequal situation; reform of the electoral law by lowering the voting age and granting expatriates the rights of voting; offering financial aid to women candidates; the setting up of a special ministry for women and human rights affairs, and finally, stimulating the work of the grievances office for investigating violations of women’s rights. )Al Mustaqbal, November 26, 2015(