Speaking at a program organized by over 23 women organizations, including Sankalpa, Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), Sancharika Samuha and Working Women Journalists (WWJ), among others, in the capital, Upreti said that there is no problem in ensuring effective participation and representation of women in the election and constituent assembly. “However, the election commission is a technical tool and the political parties are the main agencies to make it happen. They should be able to uphold the idea of gender equality,” he said. [break]
Meanwhile, top leaders of the major political parties expressed their commitment to ensure at least 33 percent of women"s representation in the CA. Speaking at the program, Pushpa Kamal Dahal of UCPN (Maoists) said that his party would stand out in ensuring women"s participation in the election. “Whether through reservation or other methods, we are going to ensure maximum representation of women in the election,” he said.
Similarly, Bam Dev Gautam of CPN-UML stated that his party has been thinking of allocating certain constituencies to women alone in order to ensure their 33 percent participation. “For a society to prosper, male and female should be on an equal footing,” he said, adding, that his party is committed towards a just society. Dr Minendra Rijal of the Nepali congress added it is not only the concern or responsibility of women to press for their equal participation in election and other state mechanisms. “The issue of women"s representation is everyone"s concern,” he said.
Advocate Sapana Malla Pradhan emphasized that women are going to give best results even if they are given 50 percent seats. “We do not need to beg for 33 percent seats. If they get equal opportunities, women can even win 50 percent seats on their own,” she said.
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