''Like political pluralism, participation by women is vital to democratic life. This requirement is enshrined in the Congress Charter, which provides that women must make up at least 30% of members of all national delegations'', said Ludmila Sfirloaga (Romania, SOC), Vice-President of the Congress, in an address to the participants at the workshop on ''Observation of elections: the role of civil society'' held on 16 September 2014 as part of the Lisbon Forum. ''The regular holding of free and fair elections at local and regional level and encouragement for the participation of women in political life are among the criteria for granting the new status of ''Partner for local democracy'', which the Congress is preparing to adopt at its session in October 2014,'' said Ms Sfirloaga. She also highlighted the experience of the Congress, which has conducted over 100 local and regional election observation exercises since 1990, throughout Europe and also in the countries of the Mediterranean basin, for instance in Israel in 2008 and in the Palestinian Territories in 2005.