National 9 (Spotlight Weekly)

Role Of Political Parties In Promoting Women’s Participation

By Krishna Man Pradhan

There is no doubt that the equal participation and dedication of both men and women is imperative in the development of any nation. The world history tells us that men had initiated the process of development of states and political organizations. However, nobody can discount the informal role played by women in whole of these events. In Nepal, the participation of women in politics was minimal before 1990. Between 1960 and 1990, a few women had participated in politics through some women organizations. But women leadership in the local bodies, parliament and political parties were next to nil. As a result, even the debates advocating for better representation and participation of women had to be initiated by men. The political parties have a key role to play in ensuring the representation of women in political parties as well as other institutions. But the past experiences show that the political parties have failed to carry out their role in this regard.

The Article 114 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 shows that it aims to encourage the participation of women in politics. It has stated that all parties should nominate at least 5 percent of women in the elections for the House of Representatives. Likewise, 3 women MPs are a must in the 35-members of the Upper House to be nominated/elected by the parties. The Local Self-Governance Act 1999 states that in every ward committees of every VDCs, one woman member is a must. Likewise, one woman has to be mandatorily nominated in every VDC and in every ward of municipalities. Similarly, a woman member is a must for every municipality; DDC and Councils. Because of the legal provisions for quotas to women, currently there is a situation where 40,000 women will represent in various levels of local bodies and parliament. However, the political parties have not made similar changes to increase women participation in their statutes and regulations.

After the promulgation of the 1990 Constitution following the popular political uprising, the representation women did increase – although it was inadequate – in the DDCs of 75 districts of Nepal, 3913 VDCs, 58 municipalities, House of Representatives and National Assembly. This resulted in the resolution of disputes regarding women and in their involvement in the development of villages. Today, women are able to raise their voices at both the domestic and international level. Elected women representatives are carrying out the duties of judges, police, lawyers and office chiefs in various villages. Women have been able to expand their roles from ward and village level to the municipalities and central parliaments where they have put forth their views strongly and made society to sit up and take notice of their plights. As a result of their pressures, the government was compelled to set aside certain amounts in the budget of every village and city for them. Women were also able to bring about the 11th amendment of the Civil Code – which guarantees legal protection in the interests of women. Despite all these achievements, the participation of women is reflected only in numbers and not quality. The fact that there is no woman in the leadership positions like mayor/deputy mayor of municipalities and chairperson/vice chairperson in DDCs and very few women as VDC chair reflects the reality.

Political parties are the major actors for bringing about the change in the current gender discrimination. They are engaged in inducting women members in their parties and raise pro-women voices. For example, every political party has expanded its women cell to every ward, village, city and district. In the past 5/6 years, the parties, along with the collaboration of NGOs like NDI, Nepal Law Society, Rural Development Foundation etc, have organized workshops, seminars and training programs to discuss the issue and identify ways to improve the condition of women. But due to the lack of women in the political leadership position, many complain that their voices are often ignored.

Recommendations

Why is the women participation necessary in the context of Nepal? There is a need to engage in this debate. Equally, the need of female political leaders and what some of them have done for the economic and social development of the country should be analyzed and highlighted. Women in the country are expected to look after their husbands, children and families. And when they have raised their children, they are already nearing 40 years of age, on average. In that age, they now have to compete with men on politics. On the other hand, the men can engage and polish their political acumen since the age of 18. There is no special program (of any political party) to address this situation of women. It has been proved that women are physically, intellectually and academically at par with men. The continuous progress in the educational, social and economic state of women is because of persistent efforts by the donor agencies, NGOs, political parties, civil society and the government. Since their physical and intellectual equality has been recognized, it is now time for the political parties, government, the King and the people to consider changing laws. The existing constitutional provision of guaranteeing 5 percent seats to women should be amended to ensure 33 percent seats for them. The deputy speaker (of the House of Representatives) and the deputy chair (of the National Assembly) should be reserved for women.

In the local bodies, provisions should be introduced to ensure the representation of women as vice chair, deputy mayors in DDCs and municipalities, among others. Likewise, 33 percent of seats should be reserved for women in every VDC, municipality and DDC. And the political parties should make available 50 percent of the funding – that they are legally allowed to spend by the Election Commission – in the campaigns of women candidates. The parties should dissolve the women cells and instead induct women in leadership positions like deputy chair, deputy general secretary, treasurer and so on. They should have at least 33 percent women in the working committees and councils. The past experiences have shown that women are made State Minister or Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. This is a mere tokenism. Various NGOs, political parties and civil society representatives have called for the compulsory induction of 33 percent women in cabinet as well.

If the country moves forward in the manner explained above, it is sure to overcome the prevailing problems and crises. First and foremost, constitution, acts and regulations need to be amended to implement the recommendations. All the legal provisions of the country should be in conformity with the Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to which Nepal is a party. The political parties, NGOs and the government should join hands to expand their city-centric programs to the villages and organize seminars and workshops there to sensitize and train the local population. A national coordination committee participated by different donors, civil society, media and political parties should be formed to ensure the implementation of these activities.

(Pradhan is the president of the Rural Development Foundation. For further information, contact kmprdf@mail.com.np)