‘Reforms needed to increase women’s participation in elections’

Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has emphasized the need to enhance existing laws and social environments to bolster the meaningful participation of women in elections.

Speaking at the inaugural session of an interaction titled ‘Elections and Women: Efforts, Achievements, and Future Action Plan of Nepal’, organized by the Election Commission and UN Women on International Women’s Day, Chief Commissioner Thapaliya expressed concern about the prevailing trend of limiting women’s candidacy to positions mandated by law, without ensuring their broader participation in politics.

Thapaliya highlighted that while the number of elected representatives in Nepal surpasses that of other Asian countries, it fails to fully embody the spirit of proportional inclusiveness enshrined in Nepal’s constitution. He noted, “Women’s abilities in politics have been undervalued, depriving them of rights and opportunities in a competitive manner.”

The Chief Election Commissioner also observed that the overall environment for women’s participation in elections lacks enthusiasm and cited instances of violence against women involved in politics via social media.

To address these issues, Thapaliya suggested that groups, including the inter-party women’s network, should play a more facilitating role. Currently, approximately 42 percent of women participate at the local level, 36 percent at the provincial level, and 34 percent in the federal parliament.

Similarly, Election Commissioner Dr. Janaki Kumari Tuladhar underscored the importance of increasing the number of women voters for meaningful participation in elections and informed about ongoing efforts by the Commission to facilitate this increase.

Ravilal Panth, secretary of the commission, referenced Article 34 (4) of the Constitution of Nepal, which mandates representation based on the principle of proportional inclusion at all levels of the state, indicating that the Commission is striving to make the electoral system more gender-friendly.

Patricia Fernandez, the Country Representative of UN Women in Nepal, reiterated that meaningful participation of women in politics is fundamental to democracy. Experts Gopal Krishna Sivakoti and Saru Joshi are slated to present suggestions in group discussion sessions to ensure robust women’s participation in elections.