Yemeni government discusses women's entry into consultative council

The Yemeni government is currently studying a draft to modify the resolution of the consultative council so that its constitutional capacities are expanded to allow women as members for the first time.

Abd El-Aziz Abd El-Ghani, head of the consultative council, said the idea of expanding it includes increasing the number of its members from 59 to 101 out of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's adherence to developing the democratic method and expanding participation in making decisions.

The consultative council presented opinions and consultations on national causes requested by President Saleh such as foreign relations, borders, development and education in addition to economic issues.

Yemeni women occupy two of 301 seats in the current parliament, and Amat El-Alim El-Sousa was lately appointed as the first Yemeni ambassador in the Netherlands.