Omani citizens have called for a quota for woman to be introduced for the Majlis Al Shura elections.
A total of 1,133 candidates who contested for 84 Majlis seats in 2011, of which only 77 were women (up from the 20 who contested the 2007 elections).
Of the 77 female candidates, just one won a seat on the Majlis Al Shura and there are now calls for a quota to be introduced in order to address the under-representation.
Speaking to Times of Oman, Majlis Al Shura member Tawfiq Al Lawati said the government should expand the council from 84 members to 95.
“I think the government should allocate one extra seat for a woman from each governorate,” Al Lawati told Times of Oman.
“There are many issues that simply do not reach the Majlis doors, especially issues concerning women,” he added.
A former president and member of the Oman Women’s Association, however, did not approve of the proposal, saying women are capable of winning more seats on the Majlis Al Shura on their own.
“The quota system will make women weaker. She should challenge her male counterparts by contesting the election,” said Shukoor Al Ghamri.
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