WOMEN AND VIOLENCE IN ALGERIA A. STUDIES AND REFLECTIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN Among the numerous studies and reflections on women’s rights in Algeria, we would like to list the following:  The national survey on ‘women and socio-economic integration’;  The study on the state of documentary research concerning domestic work in Algeria;  The study on the homes of children on benefits: situation and perspectives;  The strengthening of the capacity of women for political participation and decision-making in Algeria;  The evaluation by the Women’s Council of the impact of actions done by NGOs and associations on women’s life conditions;  Participation of NGOs in the elaboration of an Action Plan for the Promotion and Integration of Women;  Citizenship in Algeria today, representation and implementation;  The process of the forming of a couple and the question of marriage;  Women and life plans (single mothers and student mothers, novelists and activists); Regarding health, we note with great satisfaction the launching of the national campaign against breast cancer in 2009. B. PROMOTION OF THE POLITICAL RIGHTS OF THE WOMAN Towards the enforcement of article 31bis of the constitution. By means of the constitutional revision of 12 November 2008, a new constitutional provision has been introduced with article 31a dedicated to the promotion of political rights of women and the increase in their representation in the elected assemblies, at all the levels. Article 31 bis provides that: “The State works for the promotion of political rights of women by increasing their chances of access to representation in elected assemblies. The mode of enforcement of this article is laid down by organic law.” Within the framework of the implementation of this article, the President of the Republic has instructed the Minister of Justice in March 2009, to set up a national commission responsible for elaborating an organic bill to define the methods of enforcement of this article. Indeed, one can read in the message delivered on the occasion of March 8 2009 “I instruct the Minister of Justice to set up a commission … Of which the goal will be to propose to us an organic bill implementing the constitutional principles in favor of a larger participation of women in elected assemblies.” This commission, composed of jurists, experts and the associative movement, gave its conclusions in June 2009.

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