Palestinian women still underrepresented on electoral lists
Although the Palestinian electoral law has been amended to raise the quota for women's participation in the Palestinian elections from 20% to 26%, Palestinian women continue to be unfairly represented on electoral lists.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian women were remarkably present on the electoral lists of the Palestinian forces competing in the Palestinian legislative elections slated to take place in May.
On April 6, the Central Elections Commission published the final 36 electoral lists that have been legally approved to run for the Palestinian legislative elections. It further announced that 405 of the 1,391 candidates are women. This 29% representation of women exceeds the 26% quota set for women’s participation in the elections.
This proportion, however, may not guarantee that this number of female candidates will make it to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), may not enhance women’s political participation or may not exceed the elections threshold, according to the current election law.
The 2007 law regulates general elections (presidential and legislative) in the areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority, based on a comprehensive proportional representation system, i.e., electoral lists, and whereby Palestine is considered as a single electoral district.
