Opinion Forum

Lal Babu Yadav

Political Science , Tribhuvan University

The issue of gender equality has been raised strongly following the success of the April movement of 2006. During the period of Panchyat System, the concept women empowerment was limited to the economic and social development. Emphasis was given in political development of women for their empowerment after April 2006. Article 11 (3) of part 3 of the constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990 had mentioned that special provision shall be made for the protection and upliftment of women. Women, who comprise over 50 percent (Census 2056 BS) of the country’s population, have played laudable role in democratic movements of the country. But there was no appropriate representation of women in all sectors even after restoration of democracy. Special provision was made for women participation in the constitution of 1990. As per that provision political parties should reserve at least five percent seats for women in the election of the Member of the Parliament and of the 60 members of the National Assembly at least three should be women. Similarly, the Local Autonomous Administration Act 2055 BS made the provision of 20 percent reservation for women in District Development Committees, Municipalities, Village Development Committees and Ward Committees. Though the constitution of 1990 has made the provision of reservation to women, various research and studies have shown that there was less representation of women in different sectors from 1990 to 2006. There was only three, three and five percent women representation in the elections of the Members of the Parliament held in 2048 BS, 2051 BS and 2056 BS and it was only eight percent at the National Assembly. Similarly, there was only 20 percent representation of women at the District level during the election of local bodies held on 2049 BS and 2054 BS. However there was no representation of women at the policy and decision making level. For example, no woman elected for the post of DDC chairperson and only one (1.33%) woman was elected for the post of vice-chairperson. Similarly, no woman was elected for the post of Mayor of municipality. Of the total 3913 VDCs across the country only 11 (0.2%) and 18 (0.45%) women were elected for the post of VDC chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively.

Table 1

Representation of women in the House of Representatives and National Assembly in of 2048, 2051 and 2056

Year
House of Representatives
National Assembly

No. of Women
Total Number
% of Women
No. of Women
Total Number
% of Women
2048
7
205
3.41
3
60
5
2051
7
205
3.41
5
60
8.33
2056
12
205
5.8
9
60
15

Women have also actively taken part in the uprising of April 2006 along with political parties, human rights defenders and civil society. Women of all the regions like mountain, tarai and hill have equally participated in the peaceful movements and armed conflict as of men. The contribution of women in Nepali politics was seen in the revolt of 2007 BS, which was against the Rana oligarchy. However the patriarchal mentality continued then after which remained as the main obstacle for women’s participation in politics. Federal structure of the state and inclusive democracy have been taken as the main agendas of the state following the fall of direct rule of the King in 2006. Article 21 of the part 3 of the Interim Constitution 2007 states that women, Dalit, indigenous tribes, Madheshi community, oppressed group, the poor peasant and labourers, who are economically, socially or educationally backward, shall have the right to participate in the state mechanism on the basis of proportional inclusive principles. Point 3.5 of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by the then government and Maoists on 21 November 2006 stated that ‘to carry out an inclusive, democratic and progressive restructuring of the state by eliminating discrimination based on class, caste, language, gender, culture, religion and region including women, Dalit, indigenous and ethnic (Janajatis) people, Madheshi, oppressed, neglected and minority communities in the state restructuring process.

Similarly, the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 has been amended for the first time on 9 March 2007 and incorporated the provision to have proportional representation of women, Madheshi, Janajatis, Dalits and backward class in every organs of the state. Though the government and major political parties have expressed their commitment to the above mentioned points of the interim constitution but their commitment is yet to be translated into reality. Political parties have major role in multiparty democracy as they have important role in every important decisions including ruling the state. So, the political parties could play important and decisive role to ensure women’s participation in the politics. The major political parties have been giving the slogan of equality of women and women empowerment. In this context, major political parties have expressed following commitment in the election manifestos during the election of the constituent assembly.

CPN-Maoist

Ø To end the existing racial, class, gender and other discrimination and inequalities,
Ø Shall make the provision of proportional representation of women, Dalits, Janajatis, people of deprived communities, Madhesi, minorities (Muslims) in every organs of the state and representative organizations,
Ø Special rights shall be reserved for women, Dalits and Muslim communities as a compensation for being historically oppressed.
Ø Women shall have equal rights as of men in all sectors including parental property,
Ø Re-productive and divorce rights shall lie to women,
Ø Men and Women shall have equal rights on parental property,
Ø Equal participation along with special rights shall be ensured in economy and every sector of the state

Nepali Congress

Ø Inclusive and proportional representation of women shall be ensured in political, administrative and policy-making level,
Ø 33 percent representation of women shall be ensured in lower house and state parliaments,
Ø All forms of discrimination against women shall be ended,
Ø All discriminatory laws against women shall be ended,
Ø It shall be the main duty of the state to secure women’s rights.

CPN-UML

Ø All forms of discrimination, exploitation and oppression against women shall be ended,
Ø At least 33 percent representation of women in every sector of national life shall be ensured
Ø Daughter shall have equal rights as of son in parental property,
Ø Special priority shall be given to women in education and health,
Ø Legal provision shall be made for providing citizenship certificate in the name of both mother and father and provide protection

Madheshi Janadhikar Forum

Ø There shall be legal provision for ending all sorts of discrimination and inequality against women in every sector,
Ø Shall ensure equal access and opportunity to the women as of men in all policy making posts and leadership in every sector and bodies of the government,
Ø The state shall guarantee that the women shall have the right for full enjoyment of freedom and human rights as of men,
Ø Women shall be empowered and environment shall be created for women to play important and decisive role in all sectors of national life like economic, social, cultural and civil and political sectors,
Ø Equal right shall be provided to women in parental property,
Ø Constitutional guarantee shall be made for equal opportunity and rights as of men in national Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, Military, Foreign and Civil service and Private sector as well.

Though major political parties have expressed commitment for equality of women and proportional representation they have not implemented and followed these commitments. Central Committee is the most powerful body of the political parties and the decision of the committee will be decisive. However, the political parties failed to implement the commitment expressed in their manifestos while forming the central committees. In this context representation of women in the central committees of the major political parties, which has representation in the constituent assembly, has been presented.

While observing the representation of women at the central committee of the nine political parties of the constituent assembly it was found that there was only nine percent representation of women despite the population of women being 50 percent. In this way the representation of women is 42 percent less in terms of proportional representation. Despite its slogan of equality of women and marginalized group, there was only six percent (two) representation of women in the central committee of the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, the largest political party of the constituent assembly. Nepal Congress has 13 percent (Seven) women in its central committee while there was only 9 percent (Six) women participation of in the central committee of CPN-UML. Similarly there was no representation of woman of hilly origin in the central committee of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum and Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party. 33 percent women of the Madhesh are of hilly origin. The situation of women participation is very poor in the central committee of political parties. So far the political parties are neither inclusive nor democratic. The political parties have failed to implement their commitments or translate their commitments into reality.