Equitable women's representation in Nepali politics is still a paper tiger
With provincial and federal elections slated for November this year, the voice of equitable representation in the political leadership is gaining currency. Women lawmakers from various parties have been demanding legal provisions to ensure women an equitable share of candidacies under the direct election system. Now, the onus lies on our male-dominated leaders as to whether they will heed the concern of their female counterparts. Meaningful representation of women in Nepali politics has always been a debated issue. It has always hogged the attention of people from all quarters ever since we restored democracy. The political analysts hold the view that the situation is gradually improving but we still have a long way to go before we can ensure their equitable share of candidacy in Nepali politics.
Article 84(8) of the constitution of Nepal promulgated in 2015 states that at least onethird of the total members elected from each political party represented in the federal parliament shall be women. Nepal adopted the provision of 33 percent women's representation in parliament in 2006 and it was subsequently retained in the 2015 constitution. Across the globe, there is a practice of following the constitution in letter and spirit. The constitution provisions are upheld high and no one is above the law. But we live in a country where politicians are above the national charter. They manoeuvre the laws and interpret them for their personal benefit. The resultant outcome is less representation of women in Nepalese politics. According to a report from the Election Commission, the number of women candidates in the May election was significantly lower compared to men. Of the 152,465 candidates for 35221 positions in 753 local units, only 37.84 percent, 57,705, were women. The number of women also includes candidates for the two female ward members. In the 2017 local election, around 41 percent (14,352) of women representatives were elected. This clearly illustrates that male leaders are reluctant to share their candidacies thinking their command over the party leadership in the party will be at high risk.
No doubt, the number of elected women representatives has slightly increased giving some glimmer of hope. There is also an increase in the number of women in chief posts with 25 women elected as chief which was 18 in the 2017 elections. On the other hand, the number of deputies has decreased with 564 elected to the post in 2022 while this number was 700 in the 2017 election.
It is unclear what is stopping us to achieve the target of 50 percent women representatives in Nepalese politics. It is also not understandable why we are lagging in making a democratic society. According to political analysts, the patriarchal mindset of male leaders at the helm is a barrier to achieving this target. They hold the view that as male leaders hold the affluent position, equitable women's representation in Nepali politics still seems to be a paper tiger. One cannot expect significant change as long as the perception of the male leaders does not change and adopt the change.
The advocates of women's rights say high campaign costs, and the lack of women in decision-making positions in political parties are some of the major causes of women’s underrepresentation. It is reported that women are fielded in areas where the party’s hold is weak and lacks public support as well as in the areas where there is a strong candidate from the opposition party. Such a tendency on the part of the male leaders only validates the statement of former election commissioner Ila Sharma who once said that there is a notion among the political leadership that women cannot win the election. Our society is yet to evolve to get habituated to seeing women getting elected. We believe that women cannot be good leader and lacks capacity to be a good manager. If we assess the political history across the globe, we will find that many international women leaders have bail their respective country out of crises. They have become the role model inspiring many to follow their footstep. Their capability to sort out the even the toughest problems- be it domestic or external- has made them the greatest leaders of all times. But this is not the case here. The male leaders view women incapable to successfully handle the party leadership.
Over the years, the election has become an extravagant affair as the election expenses are getting more expensive. Many women still belong to an economically weak community and depend on their families. The resultant outcome is that they lack the courage to fight the election. Moreover, the influence of money, muscle and the mafia has discouraged many women politicians from contesting the election.
Though Nepal has taken progressive steps toward ensuring women’s representation in parliament, there is still a multitude of barriers that prevents their equitable share in Nepali politics. The sooner the male leaders at the helm realize that they need to change their perception, the better for society and the nation.