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Parliaments and Representatives

Women Members of the Constituent Assembly: A study on contribution of women in constitution making in Nepal

Cover art by Chirag Bandel

The election of 197 women to the Constituent Assembly of Nepal was a historic achievement and raised hopes with regard to ensuring gender equality in the constitution-building process. The elected women members comprise almost 33 per cent of the 601 members and include old-time politicians, women activists, professionals, former combatants and war widows.

This book presents the stories of the women Constituent Assembly members, which reflect their struggles, their hopes and their perseverance in struggling to bring equality to Nepali society. Their stories include journeys from battlefields to politics and from student politics to national politics, transformations from oppressed village girl to prominent politician, and life-long engagements in political movements, social work or professional life.

International IDEA: Nepal: Book profiling women members of the Constituent Assembly launched

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2012-02-08 20:12

Summary: 

Cover art by Chirag Bandel

On 31 January 2012, International IDEA, in collaboration with the Women Caucus of the Constituent Assembly (CA) of Nepal, CA Secretariat and Nepal Law Society launched the book Women Members of the Constituent Assembly: A study on contribution of women in constitution making in Nepal, in Kathmandu. Available in English and Nepali, it includes stories of political journeys of 197 women CA members, reflecting their struggles, their hopes and their perseverance in bringing equality to Nepali society.

The elected women members comprise almost 33 percent of the 601 members and include seasoned politicians, women activists, professionals, former combatants, spouses of martyrs, and young women starting their political careers. Whatever their background, they have made their contribution to the constitution drafting process. Their contributions in the CA have, however, remained largely unrecognized.

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Read the complete story at International IDEA, published 1 February 2012.


Empowering rural women: what role for parliaments? Hosted by IPU and UN Women

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2012-02-08 19:49
2012-02-09 03:44
Asia/Hong Kong
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City & Province/State: 
New York
Country: 
United States
Venue: 

56th Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations Headquarters

Description: 

The annual parliamentary event on the occasion of the 56th session of Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will be held in New York on 29 February 2012. The event, hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), will focus on Empowering rural women: what role for parliaments?

The meeting will focus on strategies to empower rural women. The morning session will discuss political empowerment of rural women. This segment will look at ways of ensuring that rural women are fully part of the political process and that their voices are heard and taken into account by parliaments. It will also look at the question of rural women's representation in Parliament. The afternoon session will discuss strategic objectives for the empowerment of rural women, including issues related to economic empowerment, equal access to land, credit and inheritance, education and health.

The aim is to highlight actions parliaments can take to overcome barriers and advance the status of rural women. The meeting will therefore provide an opportunity to contribute to the debates at the CSW whose priority theme this year is The empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.

Session documents are available here.


India/Pakistan: In a First, Meira Kumar to Visit Pakistan

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2012-02-08 19:02

Summary: 

Giving a push to the people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is set to visit Islamabad for a five-day visit from February 21. Top officials claim this will be the first-ever official visit by an Indian LS speaker to Pakistan's National Assembly. Kumar's trip is aimed to forge better ties between the two parliaments and the people across the border.

Both India and Pakistan currently have women speakers in their Parliament's lower house.

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Read the complete story at Hindustan Times, published 7 February 2012.


Korea: Women Quota Draws Backlash in DUP

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2012-02-08 00:47

Summary: 

The main opposition Democratic United Party’s (DUP) plan for a 15 percent quota for women in the selection of candidates to run in the April general election on its ticket is being opposed by some male potential candidates. They claim the rule constitutes reverse discrimination, questioning whether placing more women in politics was such an urgent issue. According to them, the 15 percent quota will hurt male candidates.

Proponents said the liberal party adopted the rule in order to encourage more women to join politics to better represent their interests. The current rate of women in politics _ 13.7 percent in the legislature _ is insufficient to represent the best interests of women, they said.

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Read the complete story at The Korea Times, published 7 February 2012.


Myanmar: Panel Says Suu Kyi Can Run for Parliament

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Mon, 2012-02-06 23:18

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Photo credit: AP Photo/Khin Maung Win

An elections panel Monday affirmed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's candidacy for Myanmar's Parliament in another step toward political openness in a country emerging from nearly a half-century of iron-fisted military rule.

A victory in the April 1 by-elections would be historic. Suu Kyi could have a voice in Parliament for the first time after spending most of the last two decades under house arrest.

A National League for Democracy spokesman confirmed the commission had approved her candidacy. "There is no objection to her nomination and we can say that her candidacy is officially accepted," Nyan Win said.

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Read the complete story at ABC News, published 6 February 2012.


UN Women to Focus on Boosting Economic Empowerment and Political Roles

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Thu, 2012-02-02 23:17

Summary: 

The head of the United Nations entity mandated to promote gender equality today said that her priority this year is to enhance the economic empowerment and political participation of women and called for the support of the international community and the entire UN system to ensure success.

The agency provided support to candidates, political parties, voters, electoral commissions and legislative efforts in more than 25 countries over the past year to ensure that more women voted and got elected. This year, UN Women will support women’s movements in 52 countries.

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Read the complete story at UN News Centre, published 2 February 2012.  Find Under Secretary General Michelle Bachelet's remarks here or watch a recording of her speech here.


Pakistan: Women Hope to Gather Gains As Bill Moves Forward Toward Senate

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Thu, 2012-02-02 23:07

Summary: 

The National Assembly in Pakistan passed a new bill unanimously on January 19 to protect women’s rights in the region,allowing the work of Pakistan’s National Commission for Women to have ‘more teeth.’ The new bill is expected to pass easily through Pakistan’s Senate.

The goal for the bill is to hold back the tide in the growing incidence of domestic violence, honor crimes and acid violence in the Pakistan regions. Basic human rights for women under the law and in court will also be an important part of the goal as the National Commission for Women. Once the bill has been approved by the Senate, the Commission will be given the freedom to act as an autonomous agency with the power to inspect conditions for women in prison. It will also be given the power to act on complaints of justice against women in civil court.

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Read the complete story at Women News Network.


Kosovo Women Cross Party Caucus publish the first bulletin

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2012-02-01 22:40

Summary: 

The Kosovo Women Cross Party Caucus publish it first bulletin. You can find there information about their activities and the great achievemnts of their joint work ! Get inspired.

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She and elections

Nazra for Feminist Studies (Nazra) released a report about mentoring* women candidates in the 2011-12 People’s Assembly Elections based on its observations of the electoral process and the experience of several women candidates.

Nazra reached these findings by supporting (16) women candidates for the People’s Assembly, either nominated on political party  lists or running as individual candidates, in eight governorates in Upper and Lower Egypt.

Nazra’s report, “She and Elections”, presents an overview of the general electoral climate and documents the experience of candidates in various phases of the elections, as well as the difficulties and challenges posed by the legal and political contexts.

Nazra for Feminist Studies will issue the final report after the conclusion of parliamentary elections, including elections for the Shura Council (Upper House of Parliament), which is still underway. Nazra will host a roundtable with successful women candidates, where they will discuss the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. The event will also witness the  screening of the documentary, “She and Elections,” which presents the women candidtes’  experiences of the elections.

Papua New Guinea: IFES Conducts Lobby Training Program, PNG Parliament Poised to Vote on Reserved Seats for Women

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2012-01-31 23:28

Summary: 

After many years of advocacy, women’s groups and activists watched as the Parliament of Papua New Guinea (PNG) voted to amend the constitution and create an additional 22 reserved seats for women. The 22 seats will be added to the current seats in parliament, held by 108 men and only one woman. Parliament also needs to pass an organic law on the reserved seats by a super majority of 73 votes. Parliament also needs to pass an organic law on the reserved seats by a super majority of 73 votes in order for it to go into effect.

IFES conducted a lobby training program for 25 activists as part of the U.S. State Department’s Women Advocating for Voices in Government project, working closely with the National Council for Women (NCW). One of the highlights of the training was a presentation by Dr. Eric Kwa, professor at the PNG University Law School, on how a bill becomes a law.  Many participants did not understand the legislative process and few knew that the constitution was the supreme law of the land or that parliament could suspend rules and pass a law in one day.

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To read the complete story visit the IFES website, published 24 January 2012.  For additional information and too view photos from the training visit this link.


Women's caucuses and alliances for sustainable development

A discussion circle on how women's caucuses and alliances can shape national policy agendas

 

Malaysia: Woman of the House

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Sun, 2012-01-29 21:25

Summary: 

A Miri senator, Doris Sophia Brodie, makes history as the first Sarawakian and Iban woman to be appointed Senate deputy president. She speaks passionately about empowering more women to enter the male-dominated field of politics in Malaysia.

“Some people use NGOs (non-govermental organisations) to help, but politics is my vehicle. There is nothing dirty about politics, it is people who make it dirty,” said Brodie.

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Read the complete story at The Star, published January 29, 2012.


Pakistan: Women participation in parliamentary affairs must to make progress

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Sun, 2012-01-29 21:18

Summary: 

Dr Marilyn Wyatt, wife of US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron P.Munter Saturday appreciated the legislation done by Pakistan’s parliament especially related to women for their empowerment and to give them due rights and for their protection.

Dr Wyatt said while 2011 was very good year for the women of Pakistan as during this year, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed laws stiffening the punishment for acid attacks on women and punishing such practices as marrying off young girls to settle tribal disputes, there was still much to do.

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Read the complete story at the Pakistan Observer, published January 29, 2012.


Egypt: Experts weigh in on low female representation in parliament

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2012-01-27 12:55

Summary: 

Very few female candidates ran in the nation’s parliamentary elections and even fewer have been elected: 10 took the oath last Monday.

Eight women elected and two appointed women make up less than two percent of the 508 seats in the powerful lower house of parliament. Considering the proportion of women who applied, the chances weren’t big. In the capital for example, only 80 women ran compared to 1,010 men.

Echoing the concern that parties were playing politics early on was Omaima Kamel, one of the newly elected parliament members under the Freedom and Justice Party. “Women are put to fulfill criteria on the list,” she said, explaining that parties were worried women won’t have a positive impact on the lists in terms of attracting voters.

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Read more in The Daily News Egypt