Women leaders key to inspiring youngsters
19 Oct 2012 10:28 PM GMT
While women make up about half the world’s population and are increasingly becoming active as voters, this is not matched by their increased presence in Parliaments. Today, only 20 per cent of the world’s parliamentarians are women. This works out to one woman in five of all MPs in the world. Women Speakers lead 14 per cent of the Parliaments in the world. Only 16 per cent of ministers are women, according to the findings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union [IPU]. Why this lop-sided proportional representation? How can this be set right? And is there a consensus on the need for gender parity in Parliament? India has yet to decide on this.
Deliberations of the Seventh Global Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament held in New Delhi beginning October can well provide a direction to Indian parliamentarians who hold the fate of the Women’s Reservation Bill in their hands. The meeting, organised by the Parliament of India and the IPU, not only gave out statistics and identified challenges, but also shared lessons learnt from individual experiences while trying to increase women legislators and the way to go about it. In this context, the role of women Speakers in bringing about a gender sensitive Parliaments that respond to the needs of both men and women was also discussed.
That women, including those in politics, across geographical, political and social divides face similar problems and challenges, was evident in the two-day business sessions as well as off work hours. That is the reason for an instant rapport and bonhomie evident amongst the delegates. While the women foreign guests sportingly responded to the host Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar’s suggestion to don saris for a special dinner and happily posed for the camera, there was unanimity over their respective job descriptions. They all felt that the job of a Speaker was a tough one. ‘I would like to describe it as a challenging one,’ said Meira Kumar while interacting with journalists.
At the conclusion of the meeting it was evident that there was concord on the urgent need to place gender equality higher on the parliamentary agenda by ensuring debates on it in the House, mainstreaming gender through the establishment of specialised committees on gender and through empowered women’s caucuses and gender units in parliament. Secretary general of the IPU Anders B Johnson highlighted the role women Speakers can play. Where they lead, Parliaments can follow, and Parliaments need to show that they have not forgotten the needs of half the population. Recognising the vital role of women speakers in spearheading the movement for establishing gender sensitive parliaments, the New Delhi initiative came out with a declaration committed to promoting women’s representation in parliament and elected bodies, bringing women’s participation to its utmost potential, placing gender equality higher on the parliamentary agenda, sharing the responsibility for gender equality with men, enhancing gender sensitivity in the working environment in parliament, and assessing, monitoring and planning for gender sensitive parliaments.
All this is easier to achieve in a society in which participation of women, in politics and decision-making, is not confined to mere lip service by parliamentarians across party lines. How many of our MPs will go along with IPU president Abdelwahad Radi’s opinion that it is crucial for women to be directly and actively involved in political, economic and social decision making? ‘It is a question of right.’ Arguing the case further, Radi says ‘It is also a question of development and efficiency… it is through women’s participation that society can be transformed in general and institutions of governance in particular in order to achieve greater equality and equity. The political, economic, financial and social crises that we are experiencing require such transformation as a matter of urgency.’ As an example of change brought about by women in terms of development, Radi held out the ‘transformation in of rural communities in India.’
Delegates from Bulgaria, Uganda, Gabon, Latavia, Turkmenistan, Botswana, Iceland, Indonesia, Austria, Zimbabwe and Tanzania gave instances of how women legislators had to be given credit for enactment of laws on issues of public concern like human trafficking, domestic violence, discrimination and mother care. This is the reason that according to Ekaterina Michaylova, Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly, voters see in women politicians the much desired humane aspect and social responsibility of politics.
The case for the urgent need for women’s participation in politics and increased presence in parliament and thereby in the decision making process was well argued by the delegates. What they said is known to many, though not accepted across the board.
But of great significance was the experience of the delegates in bringing about more women in parliament in their own country, which they shared. This could well be a road map for aspiring women politicians in India and those male politicians who champion the cause of greater number of women MPs. The first point was on a quota or reservation for women in Parliament. This was pointed out as affirmative action and as a temporary measure until a level playing field has been achieved. While all delegates advocated this a grim reminder of ground reality came from Barbara Prammer, Speaker of the National council, Parliament of Austria. ‘Don’t forget that every one woman in Parliament means one man less.’ This is why it would be naïve for women to wait for men to make space for them. Instead, Margaret Nnananyana Nasha Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana called upon women ‘to get out of their comfort zone and take bold steps.’ The point was further stressed by the Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland, Asta R Johannesdottir, when she gave the example of her country. Today the Parliament in Iceland has 43 per cent women but in 1983 the figure stood at a mere three women. There is no quota for women there so ‘we had to fight bottom upwards.’ In 1983, the women formed a Women’s Party. ‘We fielded candidates for elections right from the municipal level to Parliament.’ This Party has now merged with the ruling Social Democratic Alliance. ‘We have now got our first woman Bishop,’ told Asta with immense pride.
The message is clear. Without giving up the demand for reservation, women should fight it out on their own strength without waiting for the men to grant them a quota. For this it is essential that women politicians mentor others, encourage other women to run for office and help along with institutions in capacity building.
The demand for reservation in political parties should be strengthened. Saliya Murzabaeva from the state of Duma, Russian Federation told of Women Parliamentarian Club in her country which works to unite women from municipal level to federal level and increasing women’s representation not only in quantity but also quality. Are our women and women politicians ready to take up this challenge? Or will they continue to crib about being denied a reservation in Parliament? [IPA]
Deliberations of the Seventh Global Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament held in New Delhi beginning October can well provide a direction to Indian parliamentarians who hold the fate of the Women’s Reservation Bill in their hands. The meeting, organised by the Parliament of India and the IPU, not only gave out statistics and identified challenges, but also shared lessons learnt from individual experiences while trying to increase women legislators and the way to go about it. In this context, the role of women Speakers in bringing about a gender sensitive Parliaments that respond to the needs of both men and women was also discussed.
That women, including those in politics, across geographical, political and social divides face similar problems and challenges, was evident in the two-day business sessions as well as off work hours. That is the reason for an instant rapport and bonhomie evident amongst the delegates. While the women foreign guests sportingly responded to the host Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar’s suggestion to don saris for a special dinner and happily posed for the camera, there was unanimity over their respective job descriptions. They all felt that the job of a Speaker was a tough one. ‘I would like to describe it as a challenging one,’ said Meira Kumar while interacting with journalists.
At the conclusion of the meeting it was evident that there was concord on the urgent need to place gender equality higher on the parliamentary agenda by ensuring debates on it in the House, mainstreaming gender through the establishment of specialised committees on gender and through empowered women’s caucuses and gender units in parliament. Secretary general of the IPU Anders B Johnson highlighted the role women Speakers can play. Where they lead, Parliaments can follow, and Parliaments need to show that they have not forgotten the needs of half the population. Recognising the vital role of women speakers in spearheading the movement for establishing gender sensitive parliaments, the New Delhi initiative came out with a declaration committed to promoting women’s representation in parliament and elected bodies, bringing women’s participation to its utmost potential, placing gender equality higher on the parliamentary agenda, sharing the responsibility for gender equality with men, enhancing gender sensitivity in the working environment in parliament, and assessing, monitoring and planning for gender sensitive parliaments.
All this is easier to achieve in a society in which participation of women, in politics and decision-making, is not confined to mere lip service by parliamentarians across party lines. How many of our MPs will go along with IPU president Abdelwahad Radi’s opinion that it is crucial for women to be directly and actively involved in political, economic and social decision making? ‘It is a question of right.’ Arguing the case further, Radi says ‘It is also a question of development and efficiency… it is through women’s participation that society can be transformed in general and institutions of governance in particular in order to achieve greater equality and equity. The political, economic, financial and social crises that we are experiencing require such transformation as a matter of urgency.’ As an example of change brought about by women in terms of development, Radi held out the ‘transformation in of rural communities in India.’
Delegates from Bulgaria, Uganda, Gabon, Latavia, Turkmenistan, Botswana, Iceland, Indonesia, Austria, Zimbabwe and Tanzania gave instances of how women legislators had to be given credit for enactment of laws on issues of public concern like human trafficking, domestic violence, discrimination and mother care. This is the reason that according to Ekaterina Michaylova, Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly, voters see in women politicians the much desired humane aspect and social responsibility of politics.
The case for the urgent need for women’s participation in politics and increased presence in parliament and thereby in the decision making process was well argued by the delegates. What they said is known to many, though not accepted across the board.
But of great significance was the experience of the delegates in bringing about more women in parliament in their own country, which they shared. This could well be a road map for aspiring women politicians in India and those male politicians who champion the cause of greater number of women MPs. The first point was on a quota or reservation for women in Parliament. This was pointed out as affirmative action and as a temporary measure until a level playing field has been achieved. While all delegates advocated this a grim reminder of ground reality came from Barbara Prammer, Speaker of the National council, Parliament of Austria. ‘Don’t forget that every one woman in Parliament means one man less.’ This is why it would be naïve for women to wait for men to make space for them. Instead, Margaret Nnananyana Nasha Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana called upon women ‘to get out of their comfort zone and take bold steps.’ The point was further stressed by the Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland, Asta R Johannesdottir, when she gave the example of her country. Today the Parliament in Iceland has 43 per cent women but in 1983 the figure stood at a mere three women. There is no quota for women there so ‘we had to fight bottom upwards.’ In 1983, the women formed a Women’s Party. ‘We fielded candidates for elections right from the municipal level to Parliament.’ This Party has now merged with the ruling Social Democratic Alliance. ‘We have now got our first woman Bishop,’ told Asta with immense pride.
The message is clear. Without giving up the demand for reservation, women should fight it out on their own strength without waiting for the men to grant them a quota. For this it is essential that women politicians mentor others, encourage other women to run for office and help along with institutions in capacity building.
The demand for reservation in political parties should be strengthened. Saliya Murzabaeva from the state of Duma, Russian Federation told of Women Parliamentarian Club in her country which works to unite women from municipal level to federal level and increasing women’s representation not only in quantity but also quality. Are our women and women politicians ready to take up this challenge? Or will they continue to crib about being denied a reservation in Parliament? [IPA]
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