Womenspoliticalparticipation law making process

Women’s Political Participation in
south Asia
HANSANI SAMPATH
12 OCTOBER 20151 HANSINI SAMMPATH- UMISARC

Women’s Political Participation in the World
 Since the 4th Beijing World Conference on
Women in 1995, the expansion of women’s
political participation has been a worldwide trend.
 Big changes are still being made in the northern
part of Europe as well as in Arab and Asia-
Pacific countries.
1
HANSINI SAMMPATH- UMISARC

Sirimavo Bandaranaike - thrice Prime Minister of Sri Lanka & da
ughter Chandrika Kumaratunga, the President of Sri Lanka.
Indira Gandhi, twice Prime Minister of India & daughter-in-la
w Sonia Gandhi, President of the Congress Party.
Prime Minister - Benazir (left) in Pakistan and Hasina (ri
ght) in Bangladesh.
Khalida Zia entered politics and became the Prime Mini
ster after the assassination of her husband General Zia u
r Rahman, who was also the President of Bangladesh.
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The importance of women’s political participation is manifold. UNICEF, in it
s report3, identifies the need for political participation of women:
• Empowerment of Women in the political arena has the potential to change
societies
.• The participation of women in local politics can have an immediate impact
on outcomes for women and children, particularly in the distribution of com
munity resources and in promoting provisions for children.
• Women’s participation in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstructio
n is vital to ensure the safety and protection of children and other vulnerable
populations.
THE NEED FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
of women1

38 Nepal 1 2013 599 177 29.5% --- --- --- ---
42 Afghanistan 9 2010 249 69 27.7% 1 2015 102 18 17.6%
69 Pakistan 5 2013 340 70 20.6% 3 2015 104 19 18.3%
73 Bangladesh 1 2014 350 70 20.0% --- --- --- ---
109 India 4 2014 543 65 12.0% 1 2014 243 31 12.8%
125 Bhutan 7 2013 47 4 8.5% 4 2013 25 2 8.0%
132 Maldives 3 2014 85 5 5.9% --- --- --- ---
135 Sri Lanka 8 2015 225 11 4.9% --- --- --- ---
WORLD CLASSIFICATION
Rank Country
Lower or single House Upper House or Senate
Elections Seats* Women % W
Electio
ns
Seats* Women % W
* Figures correspond to the number of seats currently filled in Parliament
The data in the table below has been compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Unionon the basis of information provided by National Pa
rliaments by 1st September 2015. 190 countries are classified by descending order of the percentage of women in the lower or si
ngle House
1

Women’s Political Participation, Regional Breakdown
(unit: %)
**Source: IPU, http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm
Women in National Parliaments: World Classification(Oct. 2015, IPU)
Single House
or lower House
Upper House
or Senate
Both Houses
combined
Nordic countries 41.1% --- ---
Americas 27.4% 26.3% 27.2%
Europe - OSCE member
countries
including Nordic countries
25.8% 24.3% 25.5%
Europe - OSCE member
countries
excluding Nordic countries
24.4% 24.3% 24.4%
Sub-Saharan Africa 23.4% 20.1% 23.0%
Arab States 19.0% 8.9% 17.1%
Asia 19.0% 13.2% 18.4%
Pacific 13.1% 36.0% 15.7%
1

Women face countless difficulties in their attempt
to become legislators in the world
Reasons
• Politics is considered to be men’s realmDearth of women who wish
to take part in politics
Problem
Cultural
factors
Patriarchal culture
• Traditionally women were excluded
from high positions
Religion
• Social division of gender roles
legitimized by religious doctrine
and practice acted to curb
female potential
Modern military state • Women were excluded from public
activities in the military culture
1

Lack of experienced
women
Woman’s family
responsibility
Unfair party nomination
process
Election system
Election campaigns
• Most women have been forced to
have “feminine” occupations and
it is hard to enter in politics trough
such occupations
• It is often hard to juggle time and
energy between family and politics
• Nomination is conducted through
a ‘closed’ decision cycle and too often,
through unfair methods that
discriminate women candidates
• Small election district majority system
is unfavorable for women
• There are problems associated with
the generation of funds and the
establishment of effective organizations
during election campaigns
Procedural
factor
1 HANSINI SAMMPATH- UMISARC

OBSTACLES TO WOMEN'S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN SOUTH ASIA
Patriarchal structures and conservative attitudes that permeate political life;
Lack of party support;
Limited social and financial support for women candidates;
 Limited access to political networks;
Lack of contact and cooperation with other public organisations such as business
grou ps , civil society organizations, women's organisations and parliamentarians;
The absence of a well-developed education and training system to promote wom
en's
leadership and orient women in politics;
 The nature of the electoral system which may or may not be favourable to wome
n
candidates.
1

Political and Economic Barriers
 The use of quotas at the national level is limited in South
Asia. Only Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and
Afghanistan have legislation to ensure women's political
participation.
 Electoral rules can also affect the opportunities for
women to compete in elections.
 Traditionally party leaders select the election
candidates,
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Social and Cultural Prejudice
 Leadership is still predominantly considered a
male attribute.
 The culture of political competition and political
debates in the parliament, and political
violence at both local and national level are
common in South Asia
 Most of the members are not paid, local
government :panchayat india
1

Male-dominated Political
System
 The political structure, culture and practices are
dominated by men in South Asia. They undercut the
willingness of a woman to enter politics. The typical
working life of politicians and parliamentarians do not
recognize that women have responsibilities as mothers.
Support such as childcare facilities in parliamentary or in
party offices are rarely present.
 Men are the preferred candidates since they have a
better chance of winning elections.
1

what are the Strategies to Expand Women’s
Political Participation
 The factors that limit women’s political
participation:
- Cultural factors
- Institutional factors
 Cultural factors are more fundamental, while
institutional factors tend to be derived or
constructed.
 Therefore, a more effective short-term method of
reducing barriers involves focusing on the
institutional component rather than attacking
1

1. Introducing quota systems as an affirmative
action
2. Election System
3. Electoral District System (Magnitude of
Electoral Constituency)
4. Nomination Method within Political Parties
5. Educating and Scouting Talented Women in
Politics
6. Increasing Political Funds for Women
What should do
1

Legislative Changes
 Some SA countries have already progressed in taking legislative measures
for women's legislative representation. These countries should be used as
an example of regional good practice. Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan
have taken positive measures in electoral law.
 Changes in the electoral systems should consider proportional
representation systems with quotas of women's representation both within
parties and in the parliament.
 In order to integrate women in the decision-making process, countries need
to set up mechanisms to ensure women's access to different positions
 to create opportunities for women in capacity building and leadership which
enable them to get positions in various committees
 Sanctions of political parties can be a way of ensuring women's
participation
 Legal sanction can ensure that party lists contain women for public
representation. Only Nepal, within South Asia, practices legal sanctions for
not implementing women's quota in party lists and puts pressure on political
parties to implement these, leading to a large number of women being
nominated by political parties
1

Relationship between Percentage of Women Legislators and
Election System
0
20
40
60
80
100
30% 25-29% 20-24% 15-19% 10-14% 5-9% 0.1-4% 0%
proportional representation system
mixed electoral system
majority representation system
nomination(appointment) system
representation system
Source: IPU, Democracy Still in the Making, 1997, p.52.
1

Quota system in South Korea
•Adopted 30 % quota system for
women candidates in the
nomination of electoral district
constituencies
•Adopted 50 % quota for women
candidates in the nomination of
proportional representation of
National Assembly
• Every Party allocated 50 percent
of proportional representation to
women and accorded the first
place to women
Huge increase of women in
the National Assembly:
5.7% (2000)  13.4% (2004)
Current status
1

Changes in Attitude
 Women's political participation in South Asia is directly influenced by the
prevailing conservative and male dominated culture.
 Social, cultural and religious norms and values play a significant role in
influencing views towards women's role responsibilities and representation.
 In order to promote women's participation in politics, these barriers need to
be addressed.
 Changes in attitude require extensive awareness programmes. The media
can play a vital role in promoting increased gender awareness within the
society. Media can take the responsibility to educate and mobilize the
public and to increase the awareness regionally. The media should not
generate and reproduce gender stereotypes through their reporting and
should project women as legitimate and responsible politicians
 Women's organizations and other international organizations can also
provide advisory and financial support during elections to women
candidates who have limited financial resources.
1

Capacity Development
 Women who are already in the political sphere
need to be encouraged to learn the rules and
procedures of the parliamentary system
 Women's collective action and ability are
necessary to link with networks and build alliances
with other political forces.
 Capacity development initiatives should not only
include women already in the decision-making
level or in parliament, but also those who aspire to
enter into politics. Such initiatives should focus on
grass-roots women and local level leaders
1

Educating and Scouting Talented Women in Politics
1) Creating permanent institutions
for women’s education in politics
Establishing a talent pool is crucial in expanding women’s
political participation
• France & Korea
Experienced lack
of qualified
candidates
Problem Solutions
• Active search for
qualified new
comers
Current status
• In Korea, URI Leadership
Center for Women
Women’s Academy
for political
education and
G.N.P Women
Power Network
1

 In the case of South Korea, the 17th General
Election was fierce in terms of media campaigns
 The media will take the lead in terms of shaping
political culture
• It is important for women to arm themselves with tools necessary
to make the media work for them
• Specific education programs are essential to this end
2) Women’s education through
the Media and the Internet
1

3) Building strong network with other
women’s associations and establishing
a women’s resource bank
• Women’s organizations within different political parties should
build strong networks
• Parties should manage women resource efficiently
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 Build Women resource banks for
current and past women national
and local assembly members,
head of associations and women
executive party officials
• Build strong networks both among
themselves, and with other groups of
women interested in politics
should
should
Parties
Women’s
organizations
1

Increasing Political Funds for Women
Effective use of funds for the
political advancement of
women
Independent and systemized government funding is necessary to
ensure greater honesty in government’s fund
1

V. Conclusion (1)
 Future society will not progress without making the best use
of its women. Not doing so is like running a race with only
one leg or thinking with only half a brain.
 It is a global trend for governments and political parties to
allocate quotas for women in order to promote their political
participation.
 Women’s active political participation will improve
dramatically the current politics. Once women’s participation
reaches parity, the traditional male centered politics
characterized by authority, domination and sometimes
corruption and violence will yield to politics that is
characterized by love, caring, cooperation, sacrifice and
1

V. Conclusion (2)
 A key ingredient for success, and one of paramount
importance in today’s reality, lies in the effort of women
themselves, not as individuals, but acting collectively.
• Women’s organizations, NGO’s, and citizen’s organizations,
when acting in a concerted manner, have considerable
power to alter both cultural and situational conditions to
expand political empowerment for women.
• The SA countries can play an invaluable role in supporting
women’s in developing networks, in organizing and
directing research, and in finding application for research
fund around the region.
4TH NOVEMBER 2015
1

Womenspoliticalparticipation law making process

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