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Topic Discussion III
Participation in
Democratic Decision-Making:
The Vital Voices of Women, Civil Society and
Pluralism
Room 2
(14 of 21 pages)
Speaker: Thank you very much. I am Hala Rasha (ph) from the Yemen. I am
MP Member of Parliament, ex Member of Parliament. In 1993 elections took place for the first time after the unification
of North and South Yemen and pluralism, the establishment of pluralism. And I entered the elections as in my capacity
as a member of the socialist party of Yemen that was in Southern Yemen. And together with a colleague of mine,
we have succeeded from the south and no other women have succeeded despite the qualifications. No women succeeded
from northern Yemen in these elections. And here I would like to underscore the quota issue.
The quota issue for women. I think it is vital at a given point in order to offset or to acclimatize underdeveloped
mentalities, and backward mentalities to this idea of women representation. Important fields and walks of life
such as parliament and local councils. In order to enable women to be appointed to executive posts as well. Those
who have succeeded in the previous elections, as well as the present elections, have come from the southern provinces.
Now why, why did that take place? Because the southern provinces under the totalitarian regime, the socialist party
has acclimatized, or made the people used to the women representation in local councils and in executive powers
and positions. Be it as an under secretary or a manager, or president of factory and even a member of the higher
popular council, and even in local councils. So the people have become used to the presence of women in such ranks
and positions.
After the elections of 1993, despite the fact that the number of women candidates were 46 candidates in all provinces
or governors. And amongst whom or where women who were extremely qualified to become members of parliament, only
to succeeded from the southern provinces as I have said, where people were used to cast their vote for women. But
in the northern [inaudible] men were not used to cast their votes for women, and the men would have considered
themselves as really feeble if they did do so. In the election of '97, we were also a group of women who sat for
elections, and only two out of 301 MPs, only two are women. And that of course again, came from the southern governors
or provinces. And here I repeat yet again that the quota issue and the quota for women is vital at the given, at
a certain time of the history of democracy in order to allocate certain numbers of seats in the parliament for
women. And this way men will get used to the idea. We wanted to acclimatize men in the parliament coming from all
backgrounds, cultural backgrounds, to the presence of women in the parliament, of course that was an extremely
difficult task. It was very difficult for me to sit beside a man who had a mentality that was very backward, and
excuse me for that term, who did not accept my presence or the presence of women in this consultative council.
This is a consultative council and some people believe that women should not be consulted anyway. And should not
be referred to in many issues related to the state, State issues and that the presence of women in such a council
is just too much for him. That was one issue.
The second issue that I wanted to bring to your attention, is the globalization issue. One of our colleagues here
talked about its impact and I think in the Yemen, I think this globalization trend had a very large negative impact
on the women. Many of the women are following privatization have lost their jobs. And consequently unemployment
rules in the ranks of women. And if there are any new job opportunities in the private sector, they are not given
to women, but rather are given to men. Although men and women are of the same qualifications. So men do give favorable
treatment to men because women are become pregnant and they have maternity leaves and breast feeding leaves and
believe that thus men are in better shape to take up the jobs that are offered.
Another influence of globalization or impact of globalization, and due to the spread of poverty and the low standard
of living, the cost of education, or in other words, due to the low standard of living and the contribution of
society and education, families have decided to limit who studies and who doesn't go to school and of course the
chances are given to boys rather than to girls at an early age. And this of course impacts negative, adversely
affects the practice of democracy by women.
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