Revision to dedicate a seat to women in island councils rejected

Revision to Decentralization Act which will allow a seat for President of Women’s Committee run under island councils, in City and Island Councils was rejected by People’s Majlis on Monday.

24 MPs voted in favor of the bill, while 36 MPs voted to reject the bill.

MP Rozaina Adam, who proposed the revision said that the purpose of the bill was to increase level of involvement by civilians in national policy level decision making, to increase level of involvement by women in decisions made by island councils, and to empower women’s committees and to make legal revisions necessary in order for women’s committees to perform their duties properly.

As such, the bill calls for a seat in island councils to be reserved for president of women’s committees when election announcements are made for island councils.

Rozaina said that members for women’s committees are elected by women who have the right to vote for island councils. That women’s committee elections too, were moderated by Elections Commission. And that president of women’s committee was the person who secured the most number of votes.

The bill states that women’s committees need to be consulted when island committees provide island registration services, that a women’s committee needs to be set up in each island, and that island councils need to arrange a place for women’s committee to do their work and conduct their meetings in.