During a roundtable discussion with women partners, there were more than 30 participants representing networks (Rede Feto and FONGTIL) and NGOs including women’s NGOs, CBOs, political parties and UN agencies. Following the introduction of the Executive Director of FONGTIL on the approval of the Law on Community Leaders and the Way the will be Elected (suco election law), the discussion specifically focused on the closed-list or packet system of the election. Suggestions and recommendations made were:
1 To socialize and advocate information about the law and specifically the provision regarding the closed-list system to women’s wings of political parties.
2 Hold meetings with political leaders by using direct approaches e.g. meeting the leaders one by one, meeting the key leaders of political parties and groups as a team, etc.
3 Hold public meetings and discussions with women representatives in suco councils and the women in sucos and aldeias and encouraged them to be listed as candidates and ensure that they win the election.
4 Conduct an interview with current women suco representatives to know their views about the closed-list system, its implications to women’s participation, to know if they are still going to run and obtain their suggestions on how to ensure that women’s participation is increased or sustained.
5 Hold meetings with the media/journalists and encourage them to advocate gender issues and women’s representation in the suco councils.
6 Hold meetings with women parliamentarians (GMPTL) to review the important provisions of the suco law and their support to ensure women’s representation in the packets of candidates and win in the suco election.
7 To ensure that the lists of candidates in each packet in each suco includes women representatives before submission to CNE for approval.
8 Capacity building support or training for women candidates to build their confidence as candidates and future leaders, socialization of their roles and responsibilities as leaders and on gender and gender issues.
9 If possible, in the future all of the candidates have to submit their CVs to ensure they meet the required qualifications and competencies for election in the suco council.
10 Civil societies (international and national/local) need to review their roles and responsibilities to ensure women’s participation and in monitoring the electoral processes.
11 There is a need to work closely with CNE and STAE to make sure that rules and regulations prepared and approved promotes women’s empowerment and gender equality. Continued dissemination or socialization of the approved law through civic education activities, with focus on the women’s proactive participation in the
1 To socialize and advocate information about the law and specifically the provision regarding the closed-list system to women’s wings of political parties.
2 Hold meetings with political leaders by using direct approaches e.g. meeting the leaders one by one, meeting the key leaders of political parties and groups as a team, etc.
3 Hold public meetings and discussions with women representatives in suco councils and the women in sucos and aldeias and encouraged them to be listed as candidates and ensure that they win the election.
4 Conduct an interview with current women suco representatives to know their views about the closed-list system, its implications to women’s participation, to know if they are still going to run and obtain their suggestions on how to ensure that women’s participation is increased or sustained.
5 Hold meetings with the media/journalists and encourage them to advocate gender issues and women’s representation in the suco councils.
6 Hold meetings with women parliamentarians (GMPTL) to review the important provisions of the suco law and their support to ensure women’s representation in the packets of candidates and win in the suco election.
7 To ensure that the lists of candidates in each packet in each suco includes women representatives before submission to CNE for approval.
8 Capacity building support or training for women candidates to build their confidence as candidates and future leaders, socialization of their roles and responsibilities as leaders and on gender and gender issues.
9 If possible, in the future all of the candidates have to submit their CVs to ensure they meet the required qualifications and competencies for election in the suco council.
10 Civil societies (international and national/local) need to review their roles and responsibilities to ensure women’s participation and in monitoring the electoral processes.
11 There is a need to work closely with CNE and STAE to make sure that rules and regulations prepared and approved promotes women’s empowerment and gender equality. Continued dissemination or socialization of the approved law through civic education activities, with focus on the women’s proactive participation in the
