Invitation to Conference Analyzing the 2005 Egyptian Parliamentary Election

The parliamentary election in 2005 was significant for many reasons: it began a dynamic dialogue about political reform and movements and coalitions for change and reform of Egyptian political life sprung up from various sources, generating a political environment not seen before in Egypt. In this environment, women became optimistic, especially given the amount of rhetoric in support of their participation and promises from the political parties to nominate greater numbers of women as candidates.

However, in the end, only six women were nominated by the National Democratic Party (NDP) out of their 444 candidates.  The national opposition, consisting of 22 political parties and movements nominated just 7 women from 222 candidates.  Three women ran under the El Ghad and El Karama Parties, one ran for the Muslim Brotherhood, and 111 women ran as independent candidates.  Though the political parties failed to deliver on their promises, Egyptian citizens retained hope that the election would be fair enough to achieve a representative parliamentary election and a beginning to true political reform. The results for women were therefore a shock - only 4 women won seats and women were extensively used as tools in widespread acts of electoral fraud.

ECWR will held conference on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 to analyze the current reality of women"s political situation in the light of the election results, to evaluate the strategies and work done previous to the election and discuss a new strategy for cooperative work among women"s organizations and political powers in Egypt.

The conference will discuss the following topics in three sessions:

ECWR"s report on women candidates’ districts and women"s participation in the 2005 election
Present case studies from Hayam Omar, Mona Shawki and Magda El Newashy
Women"s status in the El Wasat Party, El Karama Party, NDP and Kefaya Movement
Women"s status in the Muslim Brotherhood
Future strategies
               

ECWR is please to invite you to participate in our conference to be held at

The Pyramisa Hotyel, Lotus Hall, El Dokki

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

RSVP to Ms. Nahed Shehata at 527-1397 or 012-314-0184

 
The Egyptian Center for Women"s Rights
135 Misr-Helwan El Zeraay
2nd Floor, Suite 3
Hadayak El Maadi, Cairo
Egypt

Tel/fax: (20) 2 527-1397
E-mail: [email protected]
www.ecwregypt.org
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