Egypt’s National Council for Women has declared its rejection of the new parliamentary elections law that is currently being discussed by the upper house of parliament.

According to the newly-drafted law, every electoral list is to include at least one female candidate whose name should be placed on the first half of the list, in districts that have more than four seats in parliament.

The council said in a statement that the draft law does not reflect a serious intention for better female representation in parliament, adding that it does not match the aspirations of post-revolution Egypt.

It argued that the law will place Egypt at the bottom of Arab countries in terms of representation of women in parliament, and harm the image of Egypt in front of the international community.

The council had suggested that female candidates be placed in the first third of electoral lists to increase their chances.