The Egyptian parliament has passed a law giving women a 64-seat quota in the lower chamber.
The new law, adopted Sunday, will give women a bit more than 12% of the
seats in an expanded parliament after next year's legislative elections.
Currently there are nine female members in the 454-seat lower house of parliament.
Egyptian officials say the new law is designed to promote the role of women in society.
Opposition groups complain that they were not consulted about it.
The measure will expire after two five-year parliamentary sessions.