Women In Front launches its Women in Municipalities program funded by MEPI and supported by the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities. On Monday December 2, 2013, Women In Front (WIF) launched their new Project "Women in Municipalities" under the patronage of H.E. Minister of Interior and Municipalities General Marwan Charbel during a press conference at Monroe Hotel, Beirut. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and aims to build the capacities of Lebanese women candidates and prepare them for the upcoming municipal elections by highlighting their ability to monitor and assess the needs of their respective regions and propose new solutions accordingly. Nada Anid, project manager, highlighted the major objective of the NGO-Women In Front, advocating for the engagement of Lebanese women in Parliament and Municipalities. She thanked the Ministry of Interior for its support and lauded its partnership with women-led civil society organizations. Joelle Abou Farhat Rizkallah, project coordinator, presented the project "Women in Municipalities," stressing the lack of women representation in the municipal councils in Lebanon (only 4.8%) and encouraging women to take part in public and political life. Mr. Erik Ryan, MEPI Coordinator in Lebanon, emphasized that this project will build the type of candidates that Lebanon needs. "They will better understand the way local elections work, the role of the municipal council in the larger picture of the Lebanese government, and be able to bring a new perspective to the Lebanese political realm," he added. Mrs. Faten Abou Hassan, representative of Minister General Marwan Charbel, asserted that General Charbel is committed to engaging women in the Lebanese political field. As an example of his commitment, he has proposed endorsing a 30% quota for women participation in the new electoral law. "two-third of the mayors (qaem maqam) in Lebanon are women, in addition to two female managers present in the ministry", she added. During the press conference, three women leaders, municipal council members, and candidates for parliamentary elections shared their personal experience in the public sector working in their regions and municipalities.

• published: 28 Jan 2014
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