RABIA XERÎS

Algeria- Although Algeria ratified the Convention on the Political Rights of Women; the number of women in politics is very low in the country. Some social and cultural factors don’t allow women to participate in politics. Former Vice President of the Movement of Society for Peace Louisa Malek, one of the candidates for the early municipal elections scheduled to be held on November 27, spoke to NuJINHA about women’s participation in politics in the country.

“The percentage of women’s participation in politics has been decreasing”

“One-third of Algerian women entered the parliament after the 2012 Arab Spring. Despite the amendments of the electoral law and encouragement of women in the electoral lists, the percentage of women entering the parliament in the last general election decreased by 8.35 percent. Not only laws but also the patriarchal mentality should be changed to increase women’s participation in politics,” Louisa Malek told us.

“Gender quota system is important, but the mentality must change”

Mentioning the women’s quota system in electoral lists, Louisa Malek said, “Gender quota system is a must for women to participate in politics when we consider the problems and obstacles faced by women. If there wasn’t a gender quota system in Algeria, today women would not even be able to take part in local assemblies or parliament. If we didn’t have the gender quota system, we wouldn’t see the presence of women in local elections today. Algerian women have faced challenges but they should take part in politics, in decision-making positions to change the patriarchal mentality in our society.”