Women’s Knowledge of Registration Procedures for Elections

The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development, in cooperation with the Central Elections Commission, has organized a workshop to analyze women’s knowledge of the registration procedures for elections. Many women representatives of grassroots and civil society organizations, and former local authorities’ candidates attended the workshop that was facilitated by Ne’meh Assaf, the coordinator of the civil participation project at the PWWSD, and Shatha Afifi, the trainer in the procedures and training department in the CEC. Mrs. Assaf and Afifi spoke of the need to expand women’s knowledge of the necessary procedures in order to conduct just transparent elections based on the electoral laws.

On her part Mrs. Amal Khreishe, the general director of the organization welcomed the participants and encouraged their solid political will that is important to impose justice and respect for women’s rights, and build a democratic state that equally respects people rights, and also significant to work to change women’s reality for the better. Khreishe confirmed that the elections, and women’s effective participation in the election process, are essential means of change in the Palestinian society. The election is a national right, an experience women have to encounter in order to learn and build their abilities. Khreishe thanked the CEC for their productive work that is based on justice and equality.

Ne’meh Assaf presented a brief historical background of the elections, its implications and impacts on the Palestinian life. She explored the importance of elections, and how the process legitimizes power, and the right to issue legislations and regulations. More importantly how it allows a great portion of society to practice their political right and freedom of choosing the appropriate people to manage their local affairs. Mrs. Assaf also emphasized the role elections play in monitoring and following-up the work of the elected committees, and the actual achievement of their campaigns’ objectives.

Shatha Afif talked about the work of the elections commission, its structure, offices and missions and the efforts it puts for registration, publicity and awareness, which are considered the first phase of the electoral process.

The participants talked about the experiences, problems and challenges they have faced and learned from, in order to encourage other women who plan to run for the elections, and to help them avoid some of the failures and build on the successes.