Many of women who want to participate politically suffer from problems related to customs and traditions within their community, particularly within their family as they suffer from influence and control of husbands and marital relationship on women's participation in addition; the large number of children affects their political participation and goes for elections. Moreover, the culture and education of husband affects significantly women's participation whether voting or running election, where men in rural community do not accept women's participation. These results were revealed in the two panel discussions that were held in framework of "Wosool" project.
The first discussion session was held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 in the village of Aslouji in the Sharkia governorate, in coordination with the Al-Amal Foundation for Social Welfare, and the second session was held on Thursday November 11, 2010 in the village of Al-Qababat in the Atfih Center of Helwan Governorate, in coordination with the Yalla Shark Foundation for Social Development, and participated in the two sessions A large group of women and girls in the villages of Al-Asluji and Al-Qababat.
First seminar was held on Saturday, November 6, 2010 in village of Aslogy, Sharkia governorate, in coordination with Al- Aml Foundation to Social Welfare. The second seminar was held on Thursday, November 11, 2010 in village of Alqbabat in Atfih province, Helwan governorate, in coordination with Yalla Neshark for Social Development Foundation, and a large number of women from two villages participated in these seminars.
The seminars aim to educate women and girls in the targeted areas, the importance of women's political participation in local government. Maat held two seminars in framework of the empowerment of women for governance in Egyptian village "Wosool" project, a rights-based project is implemented in partnership between Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights and Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). Wosool seeks to promote women's participation in local governance in villages, through building capacity of women to run local elections, raising awareness of the importance of women's participation in the mechanisms of local governance and building effective community-based mechanisms in support of the equitable representation of women in elected local people’s councils.
First seminar held in Sharkya goveronrate witnessed a density of women participants, more than 50 women and girls. The seminar revealed the desire of women in political participation and incentive to vote in favor of women in case of running elections. The women participants expressed their happiness for the allocation of quota for women in people's Assembly and demanded the existence of such quotas in local councils as a step to activate the participation of women in local decision-making. In village of Alqbabat in Atfaih , more than 50 women and girls participated in the seminar and revealed the impact of education and culture of husband on the political participation of women in general and especially rural women. Most of the women are aware and have the desire to run for membership of local councils, but they face some difficulties due to control of husbands in their behavior towards Political participation. Women and girls said that the reason for this is the wrong socialization, which is the primary cause of control of husband on behavior and attitudes of women towards participation. Participants demanded the existence of such programs to educate parents and husbands beside the programs of women's awareness in order to pass away a key obstacle to women's political participation.