Many female students, mostly of government colleges, are getting attracted towards political activities and getting actively involved in it. They say they are involved in student politics to work for students, and are moving ahead with male counterparts in the political path.

Ishu Lama, Treasurer of FSU at Pashupati Multiple Campus, Chabahil has been involved in student politics for the last five years. “I find politics is the best place if you want to do good for someone where you can make policies for others benefit,” cited Lama.

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.

In late January, a group representing the Karen, one of the biggest ethnic groups in Burma, issued a statement calling for women to be given a bigger role in the peace talks between Karen rebels and the government.

Similar agreements have been struck recently between the government and other ethnic rebel armies, including the Shan State Army-South, the United Wa State Army, and at least seven other armed groups.

Unfortunately, the participation of ethnic women in these conflict resolution processes is disturbingly low. It is a tragedy that the people who have suffered the most from these conflicts are those who seem to have the least say in the process of their "resolution."

Muslim women in India's Uttar Pradesh district are leading a new campaign to educate their community about the importance of participation in the democratic process, urging them to vote in their district’s 23 February elections. 

"We have been going from door-to-door and making aware Muslim women and girls about the importance of their vote," said Noor Bano, a woman, who headed the campaign in Rura village in Ramabai Nagar district.

She affirmed that the voters in the villages have widely supported the cause with several Muslim women joining the group in Bhognipur town too.