V L Srinivasan
Manama (Bahrain), April 15:
Women’s rights activists are hoping to see more women contest the by-elections which are to be held in the coming months to fill the seats left vacant by Al Wefaq MPs who stepped down in February.
The Parliament has so far accepted the resignation of 11 of the 18 MPs and although no date has been set for the polls, observers have said that the elections will be held in the coming months.
Despite women having run in all last three elections, no woman has ever been elected into the Lower House of Parliament, save for Latifa Al Gaoud who ran unopposed in both 2006 and 2010.
In the first-ever elections held in 2002, Ms. Al Gaoud contested unsuccessfully against Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who is the present chairman of the Council.
Nine women contested the most recent polls last year. Among them was Al Waad society member Dr. Munira Fakhro who qualified for the second round of voting, securing 3,079 votes, or 44.01 per cent of her constituency. Despite her large backing, Ms. Fakhro was defeated in the second round.
Despite the lack of women in the Lower House, last year’s elections did mark the first time that a woman was elected in the Municipal polls, with Fatima Salman becoming a municipal councillor in the Muharraq Municipality.
Although some male candidates have already expressed interest in vying for a Parliamentary seat in the upcoming polls, no female candidate has yet expressed interest in contesting.
Speaking to DT yesterday, Ms. Al Gaoud said: “I wholeheartedly welcome women contesting and winning the ensuing by-elections as we should also be given a chance to take part in nation building by participating in the Parliamentary democracy.”
Despite her support for any potential women candidates, the MP said that she would oppose the setting of a quota for women in Parliament. “Bahraini women are well-educated and they are capable enough to become the Members of Parliament on their own merit,” she said.
Also commenting on the polls, representatives of the Bahrain Women’s Union (BWU) said that these by-elections will serve as a great opportunity for women to try and win a seat in the Lower House and women should take full advantage of this opportunity.
Speaking to DT, the BWU head said that although it is against the law for it to back any political candidate, it will work hard to improve the chances for female candidates through social training and awareness campaigns.
During last year’s election, the Ministry of Social Development invoked the provisions of Article 18 of the law banning civic and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from being involved in election activities.
The decision forced members of these NGOs who were planning to contest the polls to suspend their memberships and stopped groups such as the BWU from throwing their weight behind female candidates.
Manama (Bahrain), April 15:
Women’s rights activists are hoping to see more women contest the by-elections which are to be held in the coming months to fill the seats left vacant by Al Wefaq MPs who stepped down in February.
The Parliament has so far accepted the resignation of 11 of the 18 MPs and although no date has been set for the polls, observers have said that the elections will be held in the coming months.
Despite women having run in all last three elections, no woman has ever been elected into the Lower House of Parliament, save for Latifa Al Gaoud who ran unopposed in both 2006 and 2010.
In the first-ever elections held in 2002, Ms. Al Gaoud contested unsuccessfully against Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who is the present chairman of the Council.
Nine women contested the most recent polls last year. Among them was Al Waad society member Dr. Munira Fakhro who qualified for the second round of voting, securing 3,079 votes, or 44.01 per cent of her constituency. Despite her large backing, Ms. Fakhro was defeated in the second round.
Despite the lack of women in the Lower House, last year’s elections did mark the first time that a woman was elected in the Municipal polls, with Fatima Salman becoming a municipal councillor in the Muharraq Municipality.
Although some male candidates have already expressed interest in vying for a Parliamentary seat in the upcoming polls, no female candidate has yet expressed interest in contesting.
Speaking to DT yesterday, Ms. Al Gaoud said: “I wholeheartedly welcome women contesting and winning the ensuing by-elections as we should also be given a chance to take part in nation building by participating in the Parliamentary democracy.”
Despite her support for any potential women candidates, the MP said that she would oppose the setting of a quota for women in Parliament. “Bahraini women are well-educated and they are capable enough to become the Members of Parliament on their own merit,” she said.
Also commenting on the polls, representatives of the Bahrain Women’s Union (BWU) said that these by-elections will serve as a great opportunity for women to try and win a seat in the Lower House and women should take full advantage of this opportunity.
Speaking to DT, the BWU head said that although it is against the law for it to back any political candidate, it will work hard to improve the chances for female candidates through social training and awareness campaigns.
During last year’s election, the Ministry of Social Development invoked the provisions of Article 18 of the law banning civic and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from being involved in election activities.
The decision forced members of these NGOs who were planning to contest the polls to suspend their memberships and stopped groups such as the BWU from throwing their weight behind female candidates.
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