Women politicians are furious even as the Constituent Assembly (CA) election is approaching fast. By now, they are almost sure that the parties are not going to ensure 33 percent participation of women in the to-be-formed CA. [break]
Their fear is not unfounded. Though the law binds the parties to field 33 percent women candidates, it does not insist on 33 percent women´s representation in the CA, according to Ila Sharma, an election commissioner.
“I had participated in the election for the first time 22 years ago. Politics is a game of power and it is not always fair. But regarding women, I saw no change in men´s perspective toward us even in so many years. They feel uncomfortable when a woman tries to step ahead or shows competency,” stated CPN-UML lawmaker Radha Gyanwali, coordinator of intra-party women alliance.
According to her, this time too women candidates have been picked just for namesake as they are mostly being fielded from areas where they are sure to get defeated. Even strong women candidates are likely to lose the elections because the parties have fielded these women candidates against heavyweights of major parties.
Gyawali is hurt also because her party did not care to offer her any ticket in the election despite being one of the most influential women leaders in the party. “The party decided not to repeat the candidates nominated earlier just to prevent the ones like us from getting any opportunity. It is not fair,” she said, adding that their respective parties have also failed to have due faith on popular women leaders like Sashi Shrestha, Suprabha Ghimire and Sabitra Bhushal, among others.
In the last CA, 33 percent of women had participated, making it a historic achievement in terms of women inclusion in politics. A huge number of women in the CA were from the UCPN (Maoist) party. This time, UCPN (Maoist), one of the major parties battling in the election, has not shown the same level of enthusiasm toward women. On the other hand, former Maoist women lawmakers, who were elected under FPTP system, including Pampha Bhusal, Jaypuri Gharti Magar and Amrita Thapa are with Baidya faction of Maoists, which has chosen to boycott the election.
Similarly, Kamala Sharma of Surkhet was the only CPN-UML woman candidate to be elected under the FPTP, while Pushpa Bhusal and Suparbha Ghimire were the Nepali Congress candidates to win directly from the constituencies. Ghimire had later quit the party as she felt bad about not getting FPTP ticket from the Congress party.
“There is not much hope form the Maoists this time. While the party has split, the one which is contesting the poll is not in a mood to back even few capable women leaders either,” remarked Shrestha, who feels women can attain huge progress in all fields including politics if men were ready to change their mindset.
In the last CA, 30 out of 240 politicians elected through FPTP electoral system were women and 161 among 335 of total had made it to get through proportional representation system. PR, FPTP and party nominations this time would cover for 56, 40 and 6 percent of CA representation, respectively. And unlike the last time, nomination of women under FPTP has not reached even 10 percent, the reason that fuels the fear of the women supporters.
“Women get positions that are discarded by men. This is the sort of practice here as we have been facing it. Women are less capable or less deserving, this is what men generally believe and show through their action,” opined Shrestha, who is also former minister.
Election Commissioner Ila Sharma thinks that the question is not of capability, but that of opportunity. With opportunity comes capability, she believes.
“No wonder, directly elected members are highly regarded than those who come through PR. That is the matter of leadership quality indeed. However, as women have been far behind men in our context, we cannot deny the need of reservations,” she said.
Choosing a political career and treading the path is way tough for women than for men, given the social structure. In addition to this, if parties are not fair with good women leaders they have, it is indeed a matter of concern,” said Ila.
While women are not much sure of meeting the target regarding the representation in CA, the major political parties have, however, not only orally assured a number of times but one has even promised in its manifesto to ensure representation of 50 percent women in the local bodies in five years. CPN-UML has further pledged to elect woman candidate in at least one of the four key positions including the president, vice president, prime minister and speaker.
UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Congress leaders have publicly vowed more than once to promote gender inclusiveness in all state mechanisms, indicating that women´s issues are not going to be big deal in days to come.
But it is easier said than done, reacts Gyanwali. “Despite several rounds of visit to Singhadurbar, party offices and meeting all influential leaders, we could not ensure 33 percent representation of women. Things would definitely change only if the men were ready to take off their glass which sees women differently than them, which is but very hard,” she said. “But we will not keep quiet. We will fight more strongly. Only when sufficient women are at decision-making level, things for women can improve in the country.”
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