Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS) A rise in the number of women in politics is the need of the hour for advancement of women’s rights in South Asia, say social activists.

“We have less than six percent of women’s participation in politics in Sri Lanka which has the lowest representation of women in politics among South Asian countries,” Sepali Kottegoda, director, Women and Media Collective, Sri Lanka, told IANS.

“After years of war, women of the island are coming out and they want to be involved in various fields, particularly politics, to make some grassroots level changes for women. Given an opportunity, they could make meaningful contributions to national development,” she said.

Activists from various South Asian countries participated in the seminar on United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women earlier this week.

Kottegoda said: “We urge our politicians, our political parties to take stronger action to promote the meaningful participation of women.”

On the other hand, women in Bhutan believe they cannot perform competently in the same way as a man does in politics, said Meenakshi Rai, a representative of RENEW, an NGO founded by the queen of Bhutan that works for victims of domestic violence. So, she said, the problem still lies with them.

“They still follow the culture of silence which they should break,” Rai said.

She also referred to a recent Bhutan survey indicating that 68.4 percent women faced domestic violence, calling it alarming.

“We have just 13.9 percent of women in parliament. We don’t have a single woman minister. For instance, with a sharp increase in domestic violence against women in the country, the domestic violence bill is drafted but to implement it we need a voice. For advancement of such women rights, we need women’s participation,” said Kunzang Lhamu of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Commission, a government body.

Pakistani activist Nighat Said Khan said women’s participation in politics in her country is better, but it is mostly women from affluent families who come to the political area.

In India, the battle for 33 percent women’s reservation in parliament is still on. The bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha, but not the Lok Sabha.

“In India, the government lacks political will to implement the women’s reservation bill. As things stand, chances are not very bright for passing it due to coalition politics and lack of sincerity. This is the only bill where they want consensus,” Pam Rajput of the National Alliance for Women said.