The Election Committee Affirms Commitment to Ensuring Women's Participation in Local Elections

SadaNews - The Central Election Commission affirmed its commitment to ensuring women's participation in local elections and supporting their presence in decision-making positions at the local level.

The commission stated in a statement today, Sunday, that political participation of women is not merely a legal right but represents a fundamental pillar to enhance balanced representation and consolidate democratic participation principles. It clarified that the current electoral law guarantees enhanced representation for women in municipal and village councils, which contributes to expanding their presence and influence at various stages of local decision-making.

It emphasized that it adopts a clear policy aimed at overcoming the obstacles that hinder women's participation in the electoral process, despite the structural, social, and cultural challenges facing Palestinian women, including the occupation, which is the most significant barrier to women's access to resources, freedom of movement, and active participation.

The statement added that despite these difficulties, the commission continues its efforts to promote women's participation through awareness campaigns, training programs, and partnerships with civil society organizations, including feminist organizations, with the goal of raising awareness of their rights and encouraging them to run for office and actively participate in elections.

The commission clarified that it continues to collaborate with its partners to implement awareness campaigns, workshops, and community initiatives to enhance women's understanding of the electoral process and support their participation in it. In addition, it advocates for women's participation and ensures that all electoral lists comply with the required legal representation as a minimum, including respecting the rights of female candidates in electoral campaigning and not concealing their names or images, as well as taking measures to ensure that they do not withdraw and maintain their presence within the electoral lists.

In this context, the commission pointed out that the percentage of women registered in the voter registry for the 2026 local elections reached about 49%, while the percentage of female candidates in the municipal councils lists was around 32%, and the percentage of female candidates in the village councils was about 23%. The commission also recorded 8 lists headed by women and added that the percentage of women among its staff involved in the electoral process reached approximately 57% of the total permanent and temporary employment.

The commission called upon all concerned parties, including political parties, lists, candidates, and civil society institutions, to respect women's participation, emphasizing that supporting women's participation in elections represents an investment in local development, enhances the democratic path, and effectively contributes to shaping the future of the homeland. It noted that women's experiences have proven their success and excellence and remain exemplary models.

The commission concluded its statement by confirming its continued reception of inquiries and reports related to women's rights to vote and run for office, asserting that all women have the full right to exercise their electoral rights according to the law and relevant regulations. It invited any woman facing any form of pressure preventing her from exercising her electoral right, whether as a candidate or a voter, to approach any of the commission's offices or the Independent Commission for Human Rights to file a complaint, where these issues will be followed up and addressed urgently.