Women representation on electoral lists 49.9%: activist on Egypt House elections

CAIRO – 25 October 2020: Chairperson of the Egyptian Center for Women Rights Nahed Abou al-Komsan said in a TV interview Sunday that the representation of women on electoral lists in 2020 House of Representatives Elections has recorded 49.5 percent.

Abou al-Komsan praised the status quo as the minimum percentage indicated in the law is 25 percent so that is almost the double.

The lawyer noted that the constitutional amendments passed in 2019 made political parties thoroughly consider the capabilities of women in various sectors. She speculates that one third of members will be women.

Abou al-Komsan added that Egyptian women faced massive challenges over the past decade after the January, 25 Revolution - which took place in 2011 - as they sensed danger not only on the personal scale but also on the societal scale.

In a previous interview, she praised the amendments to the Sexual Harassment Law drafted by the Cabinet and being reviewed by the House of Representatives. The amendments focus on not disclosing the identity of victims as they go through legal procedures against harassers.  

Voting for 33 million eligible voters in the first phase of the 2020 House of Representatives elections kicked off for the second day in 14 governorates which are  Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, El Wadi El Gedid, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea, Alexandria, Beheira, and Marsa Matrouh.