Qadira: Project aiming to increase women’s political participation in Libya
Libyan women face many challenges in politics. For this reason, the Qadira project has started in Benghazi to increase women’s political participation.
HINDIYA AL-ASHEPY
Benghazi- Libyan women have participated in political bodies and legislative councils, but at a low rate compared to the sacrifices made by them; the rate of women’s political participation has not yet exceeded 16%. For this reason, NGOs have held seminars, workshops and started training projects that aim to increase women’s political participation.
Qadira Project
The Meras Organization for Development is a non-governmental organization in Benghazi aiming to encourage women to participate in politics in Libya by organizing various workshops in order to raise awareness of Libyan women in economic, political and social fields. In collaboration with a number of NGOs in different cities of Libya, the organization has started the Qadira project to increase public confidence in the performance of women as partners in political decision-making positions.
Participation from all cities of Libya
The organization has held training programs for Libyan women as part of the Qadira project, which is supervised by many international organizations, including the UN. About 30 women from all cities of Libya participated in the second training workshop of the project. Many women from the western, southern and eastern cities of the country participated in the training workshop held on Zoom.
More workshops
Basma El-Werfally, president of the Meras Organization for Development, told NuJINHA that the organization will hold more virtual workshops as part of the Qadira project to strengthen women's political culture and urge them to participate in the electoral process. “The role of NGOs is important in raising awareness about the election processes. The role of women’s organizations is to educate the public and highlight the talents of women candidates in the election processes.
“The Qadira project is different”
Elham Al-Qatrani, a political activist in the city of Benghazi, said, “The Qadira project is different from other projects because it encourages Libyan women to actively participate in political activities.”