Egypt, Libya and Tunisia

Report on The Sub-Regional Forum on Women’s Participation in Post-Revolution Parliamentary Elections Comparative Experiences from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia Cairo, 9-10 December 2012 Comparative Experiences from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia Introduction This report aims at documenting the proceedings of the Sub-Regional Forum on Women’s Participation in Parliamentary Elections in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya; the three Arab countries which are going through a transition period to build democracy, since 2011, following the Arab Spring revolutions. It presents comparative experiences, regional and international perspec- tives, as well as the discussions and debates that revolved around them. The Forum, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), brought together more than 120 participants from among policy and decision makers, legislators and national opinion lead- ers from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. It also included members of the committees for drafting of legislations (constitution or electoral laws); government representatives; elected and non- elected candidates (men and women); members from the main political parties; academia and the media; civil society organizations; women election observers; as well as representatives of international organizations. This varied group was selected to ensure the engagement of both men and women to support efforts and partnerships conducive to the achievement of gender equality, social justice and equal participation in the current democratic transition. It is hoped that this report will serve as a reference document for the three countries and for other countries in similar stages of democratic transitions. Methodology The report begins by presenting a brief background on the situation in each of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia after the Arab Spring revolutions. It starts with an abstract of the statements given by the officials and experts participating in the Forum to shed light on key issues in the three countries, whether by presentations or case studies or through the discussions. The full text of the statements in the original language, or translated, are annexed to the report. The Forum consisted of 5 plenary sessions which provided the opportunity for floor discussions and interaction among participants, following both the presentations and the case studies. Round tables were organized during which each group of participants discussed the situation in their respective countries, deliberated separately on their specific experience and challenges, reflected on the lessons learned and the way forward, and reported to the plenary session the lessons learned, together with their proposed recommendations. The debates were facilitated by highly experienced moderators who summarized the main ob- servations, conclusions and recommendations of the participants at the end of each session. The debates were mostly conducted in Arabic with simultaneous translation in English and Arabic provided. Successful regional and international experiences from other countries transitioning to democracy were shared with the audience. It is worth noting that, in preparation for the Forum, and particularly for the way forward, the UN provided the participants with useful UN documents, such as relevant General Assembly resolutions, as well as samples of gender responsive constitutions/women charters and other documents for reference and guidance. http://www.unwomen.org/ A team from UNDP Egypt, UN Women and volunteers, with guidance from senior consultants, recorded the sessions’ proceedings over the two days of the Forum (9 -10 December 2012). 5i The Sub-Regional Forum On Women’s Participation In Post Revolution Parliamentary Elections Executive Summary The Sub-Regional Forum on Women’s Participation in Post-Revolution Parliamentary Elections - Comparative Experiences from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia - was held in Cairo, Egypt, from 9-10 December 2012. The purpose of the Forum was to bring together decision-makers, parliamentarians, politicians, experts and scholars from the three Arab Spring countries and other countries to share experiences and discuss challenges in order to help each country draw a road map for the way forward and to determine ways and means through which they can network and collaborate to mutually support the enhancement of women’s participation. The introductory session started by welcoming the participants and explaining the Forum’s main objectives and proceedings, stressing the importance given by the UN to women’s empowerment and effective political participation. This was followed by country presentations from senior officials responsible for the empowerment of women in each of the three countries on the current status of women’s political participation and the importance of this Forum to help each of the three countries achieve their aspirations for a better future for their citi- zens. The first session aimed at expounding how special measures within the electoral system can enhance women’s representation, followed by a comparative analysis as to whether or not these measures were used in the three countries, and their results. A floor discussion provided an opportunity to share first hand observation by participants from the three countries. A case study on the experience of the 2008 elections in Nepal was shared as a best practice in enhancing the participation of women and minorities in parliamentary elections. The second session dealt with the challenges that women candidates in the region face, the role of political parties in the candidate selection and the internal voting mechanisms in political parties. The presentation and the floor discussions described and helped identify the factors that can enable women’s participation in elections, such as the support of parties, civil society, particularly women NGOs, international organizations, how the media can and should play a supportive role, and on the other hand, how the lack of funding can be a disabling fac- tor. The challenges that politicians, particularly women, face were described by an eminent politician through her experience as a parliamentarian in the British Parliament and in the Parliaments of the European Union and the European Council, who also gave advice on how women candidates could hone their political experience. Session three focused on a comparative analysis of the challenges encountered, the oppor- tunities provided by the Revolutions and the transition to democracy in the three countries: where and why did it contribute to an enhanced participation of women voters? It also discussed the impact of voter education, the role of the electoral administration and other forms of support; and described how to reach out to women voters. The experience of Yemen in the post revolution elections on the modalities of reaching out to women voters and activating their engagement was shared with the Forum’s participants. The Fourth Session on the Second Day focused on gender sensitivities in electoral management and how legal provisions do not provide sufficient support for women. The importance of gender in democratic governance, including electoral management was stressed. The case study of the South African experience and the discussions emphasized the importance of dis- aggregated qualitative and quantitative statistics and research, shedding light on the obstacles ii6 Comparative Experiences from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia that have to be overcome to ensure women’s equal participation as voters and candidates. The fifth session highlighted the importance of the role of women’s organizations in support- ing the participation of women whether through civic education and awareness, electoral observation, voting or running for elections. The experience of the 50/50 Group from Sierra Leone was enthusiastically shared with the audience, which described how tailor-made tools can mobilize the participation of men and women in civic life. Sessions were followed by round table discussions, facilitated by a moderator. Participants were divided into three groups to reflect on the major challenges in their respective countries that prevent women’s participation in political life and to recommend measures that could enhance their role in building their societies. In a plenary session, each group presented its findings which revealed that while the three countries faced similar challenges, mainly consti- tutional, legal, procedural, social and cultural, yet each country had its own specific challenges. The recommendations of the three countries reflected the need for regional and international networking, for learning from the different experiences and for sharing best practices. The closing session recognized the common needs of the three countries. As participants con- firmed their readiness to pursue their efforts towards the political empowerment of women and highlighted the usefulness of exposure to other experiences, the UN representatives also expressed their satisfaction with the findings of the Forum and declared their readiness to support any country-owned and country-led initiative to increase and enhance women’s political participation. iii7 Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................. i Methodology .................................................................................................................

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