More than 50 per cent of candidates nominated by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party in the upcoming provincial and district council elections should be women, a coalition of 12 civil society groups said in a letter on Thursday.

The Committee to Promote Women in Politics (CPWP) also highlighted the importance of having a legislative population that is at least 25 per cent female, in a letter submitted to Sy Chhum, secretary general for the CPP and Sam Rainsy, leader of the CNRP, according to Thida Khus, executive director at Silaka.

Spokesmen from both parties pledged yesterday to promote more female representation in politics. Women claimed just over 20 per cent of the 123 National Assembly seats in July’s national election, CPWP President Ros Sopheap said yesterday.