UN Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka hosted this week two meetings with foreign and Arab ambassadors on the importance of Lebanon conducting its municipal elections on time in May despite its multiple crises and on how the international community can support this important milestone.  Notwithstanding the priority and urgency of electing a new President to end the over four-month presidential vacuum, the Special Coordinator underlined that municipal elections were also important for Lebanon to demonstrate commitment to democratic practices, promote the efficient functioning of state institutions and strengthen confidence in local government as well as to rebuild trust with citizens, the Special Coordinator added. 

Earlier on Monday and in cooperation with UNDP and UN Women, the Special Coordinator hosted a roundtable discussion with a group of NGOs and experts on ways to boost the participation and representation of women in the municipal elections, bearing in mind that women represent only 5% of municipal councils from the last elections in 2016. Discussions focused on the feasibility of pushing for the adoption of a gender quota law.