Women crossing the threshold; Women participation in political parties

The Yemeni women participate in political parties more than they participate in legislative and executive bodies, said a recent report on women status.

In the high level leadership positions of the three main political parties, there are about 168 women versus some 1,469 men, said the report which was conducted jointly by the government-backed High Council of Women and the National Committee of Women. 

About 6 women versus 10 men are participating in the higher positions of the largest Islamist opposition party, Islah, according to the report, which says the Islah party was the first in terms of women’s participation.

The ruling party, General People’s Congress (GPC), ranks second where some 1,390 women are participating in its Politburo and Central Committee versus 4,401 men.

The report says the number of women participants in the permanent and general committees of GPC and administrative bodies in the districts and governorates are 1,390 women versus 4,401 men.  

The opposition Socialist Party ranks the third where 15 women versus 100 men are participating in its high level bodies. 

For the judiciary body, the report says that women’s participation in this field is very weak.  In general prosecution offices there are 85 women judges versus 953 men according to the 2007 statistics. The number of the women judges was 76 versus 1,131 men in courts, according to the same statistics.

“The number of women is still limited in the judiciary despite the fact that there are no legal constraints preventing women from working in the judiciary,” said the report. 

“The reason behind the low number of women working in the judicial field is that women were only allowed to study in the high judicial institute from 2006.”

A sociologist from Sana’a University said discriminative legislation was among the reasons behind the weak participation of women in public life.
 
The sociologist, Adel Al Sharjabi, mentioned the law of personal status, as an example, which obligates women to take permission from their husbands if they are to go out.

“The participation of women in public life requires that they go out of the house, but the law requires them to ask for permission from her husband,” said Al Sharjabi. 

“This is a contradiction between legislation that guarantees all women’s rights and the legislation that obligates women to take permission from the husband,” he added.

Related Content

•  Somali pirates free hijacked Yemeni cargo ship
•  Zandani declares solidarity ship to break Gaza blockade
•  Capital punishment expected for murderer of Sayoun judge
•  Yemeni child bride, winner of Glamour's woman of the year accuses her lawyer of corruption
•  Political rallies met by strong opposition - and strong apathy
•  Hamdan Released to Yemeni Authorities
•  Prime Minister launches Arab fisheries conference
•  Yemeni athletes win 47 medals at the Dubai Special Olympics
•  AL-Salem Jews transfer electoral home to Sana'a
•  Fears over electoral registration process increase due to disruptions by demonstrators