20 January 2012
The Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace, a movement of Libyan leaders
working with women and youth from around the country and diaspora, has
released a draft electoral law (click here for Arabic version)
that seeks to address some of the limitations of the draft election law
released in January by the National Transitional Council.
working with women and youth from around the country and diaspora, has
released a draft electoral law (click here for Arabic version)
that seeks to address some of the limitations of the draft election law
released in January by the National Transitional Council.
The draft law was drafted by a group of elite Libyan legal experts
including Dr. Kuni Abouda, Salah El-Merghani, Hadi Buhamra, and Ali Dou.
including Dr. Kuni Abouda, Salah El-Merghani, Hadi Buhamra, and Ali Dou.
“We call on all Libyans, men and women, young and old, to join
protests on Sunday, 22 January In Tripoli and Benghazi to demand the NTC
not adopt the restrictive electoral law at this time which is crucial
to determining the fate of the new Libya” said Zahra’ Langhi of the
Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace. “
protests on Sunday, 22 January In Tripoli and Benghazi to demand the NTC
not adopt the restrictive electoral law at this time which is crucial
to determining the fate of the new Libya” said Zahra’ Langhi of the
Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace. “
The electoral law is significant because it will govern the process
for selection of members of the Public National Conference (PNC) in June
2012. The PNC, in turn, will be tasked with drawing up a new
constitution within 60 days. This constitution will then be put to a
national referendum and, if passed, parliamentary elections for a
permanent government will take place six months afterwards.
for selection of members of the Public National Conference (PNC) in June
2012. The PNC, in turn, will be tasked with drawing up a new
constitution within 60 days. This constitution will then be put to a
national referendum and, if passed, parliamentary elections for a
permanent government will take place six months afterwards.
The LWPP’s analysis of the law concentrates on four main issues that
could have a negative impact on the rights of women and youth in the
country. This is because the proposed electoral law, as currently
written, lacks adequate provisions for women’s political participation,
unnecessarily excludes individuals from public life, risks incentivizing
political party formation along tribal lines, and contains inadequate
mechanisms to fight corruption in the electoral process.
could have a negative impact on the rights of women and youth in the
country. This is because the proposed electoral law, as currently
written, lacks adequate provisions for women’s political participation,
unnecessarily excludes individuals from public life, risks incentivizing
political party formation along tribal lines, and contains inadequate
mechanisms to fight corruption in the electoral process.
Women’s Representation: The LWPP’s draft law
proposes a “zipper list system” whereby women and men alternate
one-by-one on party lists to ensure that female candidates are not
placed lower on lists, and thus shut out of power.
proposes a “zipper list system” whereby women and men alternate
one-by-one on party lists to ensure that female candidates are not
placed lower on lists, and thus shut out of power.
Tribal Affiliation: The LWPP’s draft electoral law
contains a provision indented to prevent the creation of political
parties based on tribal lines by prohibiting party lists from containing
relatives up to the degree of fourth cousin. This will ensure that
political parties working on Libya’s new constitution evolve largely
outside the influence of tribal politics and patriarchal structures.
contains a provision indented to prevent the creation of political
parties based on tribal lines by prohibiting party lists from containing
relatives up to the degree of fourth cousin. This will ensure that
political parties working on Libya’s new constitution evolve largely
outside the influence of tribal politics and patriarchal structures.
Social Inclusion: The LWPP is also concerned by the
prohibition on holders of dual nationality from serving in the PNC – a
move which, ironically, would cast aside several currently serving NTC
members and many who had a major role in the February 17 Revolution. The
LWPP’s draft law reverses this provision, and we are gratified by
recent press reports indicating that dual nationality holders may now
participate in electoral politics
prohibition on holders of dual nationality from serving in the PNC – a
move which, ironically, would cast aside several currently serving NTC
members and many who had a major role in the February 17 Revolution. The
LWPP’s draft law reverses this provision, and we are gratified by
recent press reports indicating that dual nationality holders may now
participate in electoral politics
Electoral Integrity: The LWPP draft electoral law
prohibits campaigning in mosques, schools, universities, on the basis of
tribal and religious affiliation, and also forbids weapons to be
carried near polling locations. Further, it stipulates that voter fraud
or tampering with the results of elections will render the elections
null and void, triggering a redo of voting. Finally, unlike the current
draft, the LWPP draft includes a strong role for Libyan civil society
and International Organizations such as the UN to monitor and report on
elections.
prohibits campaigning in mosques, schools, universities, on the basis of
tribal and religious affiliation, and also forbids weapons to be
carried near polling locations. Further, it stipulates that voter fraud
or tampering with the results of elections will render the elections
null and void, triggering a redo of voting. Finally, unlike the current
draft, the LWPP draft includes a strong role for Libyan civil society
and International Organizations such as the UN to monitor and report on
elections.
To reject the NTC-proposed electoral law, the LWPP and its
partners are organizing a march the morning of Sunday January 22 in
Tripoli and Benghazi.
partners are organizing a march the morning of Sunday January 22 in
Tripoli and Benghazi.
Contact: For more information contact Zahra’ Langhi at zahralanghi@lwpp.org or visit the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace on the web or on Facebook.
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