Minister promises to take all legal measures to ensure 25% quota for women

• Says Elections Commission is also responsible of ensuring this quota
• Calls on women’s organisations to boycott political parties that fail to appoint required number of women to LG councils

By Skandha Gunasekara

Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Governments Faiszer Musthapha yesterday vowed to take all possible legal measures to ensure that the 25% quota for women was respected during the establishment of Local Government bodies. 

“I will do everything in my power to ensure the 25% quota for women is implemented when establishing Local Government councils. I call on all political parties to respect the 25% quota.”

He made these remarks while taking part in a discussion with several women’s organisations and individual advocates held at the ministry, noting that the legislation received the full support of Parliament when it was enacted. 

He then pledged to write to the Elections Commissioner requesting him to order political parties to nominate women in accordance with the new law. 

“There are legal provisions to enforce the 25% quota. Political parties should not refuse to nominate women. I will be writing to the Elections Commission requesting the Chairman to give a directive to political parties ordering them to nominate the required number of women,” he said, adding that the Election Commission too was responsible for making sure the political parties made appointments in accordance with the quota.

He then called on women’s organisations to isolate political parties that did not respect the 25% quota at upcoming elections.

“All political parties contested this election on a basis of 25% representation of women. That was what the people voted for at the election. If a political party doesn’t respect the 25% quota they are going against the people’s mandate. The women’s organisations must isolate these political parties and call on women not to vote for them as they are going against the franchise,” he said. 

In addition, the Minister proposed to set up an advisory committee to the ministry consisting of five representatives of women’s organisations. 

The Minister also revealed that, upon the request of the Elections Commission, the establishment of Local Government bodies had been postponed until 20 March.

Faiszer to present Delimitation Report in P’ment by 2 March

Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Governments Faiszer Musthapha yesterday said that he would be presenting the Delimitation Report of Provincial Councils to Parliament by 2 March. 

The terms of the three provincial councils - Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North Central - had expired and an election was required. However, the election was initially postponed through the amendment to the Provincial Councils Act which sought to reform the electoral process to a 50% proportional representation system and 50% first-past-the-post system. Consequently, a delimitation process was required before an election in these provinces could be held. 

The three-member Delimitation Committee handed over its report to the Minister last week. The terms of another three provincial councils will also soon expire.