Nazra for Feminist Studies (Nazra) released a report about mentoring^* women candidates in the 2011-12 People’s Assembly Elections based on its observations of the electoral process and the experience of several women candidates. In connection with the report is also launced a video documentary which presents the women candidates’  experiences of the elections.

For the parliamentary elections due next week on February 2nd, it is now set that 23 out of a total 286 candidates will be women.  About 2 weeks ago, the numbers were 24 out of a total of 344. There are 50 seats in the parliament, and the firs women in Kuwaiti history were elected for parliament in 2009. 

The clause of 10 % out of the 200 national assembly seats in the new Libyan parliament being allocated for women is to be removed from the elections law, according to a western diplomat quoted by Reuters. One of the determining factors may well be some 14,000 emails received through the National Transitional Council website as a reaction to the draft law, out of which 80 % were against the quota. Some of the opponents from women’s rights groups with the argument that the number should be higher.