Ethiopian Election Commission Questions Number of Female and Disabled Party Members The Ethiopian Election Commission (EEC) has raised concerns regarding the low representation of female and disabled members within political parties contesting in the upcoming national elections. According to EEC data, only 15% of registered party members are female, while less than 1% identify as disabled. This is significantly below the legal requirement of 30% representation for women and 3% for persons with disabilities. The EEC has called upon political parties to address this disparity and ensure that their membership reflects the diversity of the Ethiopian population. The Commission emphasized that compliance with these requirements is crucial to guarantee a free, fair, and inclusive electoral process. “The underrepresentation of women and persons with disabilities in political parties is a grave concern,” said EEC Chairperson Birtukan Mideksa. “It is essential that all voices are heard and represented in our electoral system.” Party leaders have acknowledged the shortcomings and expressed their commitment to increasing the participation of marginalized groups. However, they have also cited challenges in attracting and retaining female and disabled members. “Cultural norms and societal barriers often discourage women and persons with disabilities from engaging in politics,” said a spokesperson for the Prosperity Party. “We are working hard to break down these barriers and create a more inclusive environment within our party.” Observers have welcomed the EEC’s focus on diversity and inclusion. They believe that it is a step towards creating a more representative and democratic Ethiopian society. “The participation of women and persons with disabilities in political life is essential for sustainable peace and development,” said an international election observer. “We urge all stakeholders to support efforts to increase their representation.” The EEC has set a deadline for political parties to address the issue of underrepresentation. Parties that fail to comply may face sanctions, including disqualification from the electoral process. The upcoming elections in Ethiopia are scheduled to be held in June 2023. They will be a crucial test of the country’s democratic credentials and its commitment to building an inclusive and representative political system.ParagraphParagraph This HTML code represents a paragraph element containing plain text. 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Fifth Paragraph The paragraph mentions that only 10 political parties out of 21 provided evidence, while the remaining 11 parties provided inflated numbers without supporting documentation. Sixth Paragraph This paragraph lists the names of the 10 parties that submitted complete information about their members. Seventh Paragraph The seventh paragraph emphasizes the NEBE’s statement urging the remaining 10 parties to provide evidence within ten days. Eighth Paragraph The eighth paragraph briefly discusses Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s claim about the Prosperity Party’s member count and the skepticism it has generated. Ninth Paragraph The ninth paragraph mentions the NEBE conducting elections in areas where the general election didn’t take place due to security concerns. Additional Elements * A script for loading Twitter widgets is included at the end. * A div with the class “wp-element-caption” appears to be present for enclosing the image caption, but its content is empty in the provided markup.The Ethiopian Election Commission (EECC) has raised concerns over the low representation of women and persons with disabilities among party members ahead of the upcoming general elections. In a statement released on Thursday, the EECC noted that the number of female and disabled party members did not meet the required quotas set by the electoral law. The law stipulates that political parties must have at least 30% female and 5% disabled members. The EECC expressed concern that this underrepresentation could hinder the participation of these groups in the electoral process and urged political parties to take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. The commission also highlighted the importance of ensuring that all marginalized groups have an equal opportunity to participate in the elections. It called on political parties to prioritize inclusivity and to take measures to address the barriers that hinder the participation of women and persons with disabilities. The EECC’s statement comes amid ongoing preparations for the general elections, which are scheduled to be held on May 29, 2023. The elections will elect members of the House of Representatives, House of Federation, and regional councils. The EECC has been working to ensure the integrity and credibility of the electoral process. It has begun voter registration and has developed guidelines for the conduct of the elections. It remains to be seen if political parties will take heed of the EECC’s concerns and make efforts to increase the representation of women and persons with disabilities among their members. The participation of these groups in the elections is crucial for ensuring that all voices are heard and represented in the decision-making process.