LWC and Women in Parliament demand 30% representation of women in new cabinet

The Women in Parliament coalition launched yesterday a campaign from Ain Mreiseh, Beirut entitled 'Our voice-reaching-the skies-30% women ministers'. Activists and members of the coalition demanded the participation of women by not less than 30% in the forthcoming cabinet. Banners hoisted by the campaigners read like, 'we want 7 women ministers in the 24-minister government'.  Lebanon to note came 143 out of 144 countries in terms of women political representation. Coalition coordinator, Samira Maasri, said the talk about a government that appeases all components of society should also take into consideration women’s representation. “We want the present defective situation put right. We want 30% women ministers,” Maasri warned. In the same vein, the Lebanese Women Council (LWC) called for the adjustment of legislations to be discrimination-free, and promote equality and the active participation of women in decision making. The LWC statement released during a press conference on Friday with the theme, ‘Participation of women in upcoming landmarks”, appealed for activating the role of women in senior political positions and enactment of the minimum 30% women’s quota in the executive branch. The statement also called for endorsement of a fair proportional electoral law which endorses a women’s share by at least 30% in the next Parliamentary elections. The LWC also called for a just and impartial legislative system void of any discriminatory laws against women and the abolition of Article 522 of the Penal Code which exempts a rapist from punishment if he marries his victim. On the economic and employment fronts, LWC requested an amendment of the Labor and Social Security Laws in effect so that they take in workers in the agriculture sector. Other notes by LCW, included the amendment of the text on the punishment of acts of sexual harassment at the workplace, activation of the Social and Economic Council and putting in effect women’s representation quota in senior state positions.(An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, December 3 and 5, 2016)