'Keep 33 percent representation intact'

KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Women rights organizations have urged the political parties and election commission to take care "not to undermine the already won battle" regarding women empowerment by failing to ensure 33 representation of women in the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election.



Nepal had become one among the few countries in the world with high women participation in the parliament by inducting 33 percent of women through the last CA election held in 2008.



“How can we step back from what we have already achieved? It is a national issue as we need women in the politics so that they are adequately represented at the decision-making level,” said Nirmala Sharma, president of Sancharika Samuha, a forum of women journalists. [break]



Speaking at a program held in the capital on Friday, Sharma added that the election commission and the high level political committee should ensure women´s fair participation in the CA through an ordinance.



A press statement issued by the organizers that included Didibahini, Media Advocacy Group and SAATHi beside Sancharika Samuha stated that the downsizing of the women CA members in the upcoming CA would have adverse impact on women participation. And the election commission and the political parties should not hesitate to try other options to prevent such situation from occurring.



“Either the number of CA members could be fixed at 550 with women representation at 182 or, in case of the existing provision, 491 CA members, with 162 of them women would work,” the statement reads. “Not only women of the country but that of the entire world would feel sad and humiliated, if women´s representation in the CA declines instead of rising in the gap of 5 years,” the statement adds.



Meanwhile, CPN-UML leader Sabitra Bhushal said that her party has already decided to ensure one third of women participation in the election. “The parties have already begun to pick the candidates for the election. Our party is going to ensure one-third of women´s participation in the election,” she said.



More than 112 countries in the world have quotas for ensuring women´s parliamentary participation, out of which, over 30 nations have adopted measures to ensure 33 to 56 percent women´s participation in their parliaments.

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