Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy

incompetence, spreading false rumors designed at character assassination, and willful
use of the power of no confidence. 10
Taking into account the violence against women in politics particularly at the local
level, which is one of the most important barriers to their participation, a South
Asian initiative was launched by South Asia Partnership International that specifically
called for an end to violence against women in politics.
A resolution passed by South Asian citizens in 2008 says:
“There are inherent structural impediments that prevent and dis-courage
women from participating in decision-making processes which consequently perpetuates
violence, both visible and invisible against women….Violence is not just
limited to overt, visible and manifest ac-tions but can also be congealed and invisible
and is deeply embedded in the system of the state mechanisms. Such violence is
unacceptable to the men and women of South Asia.”
It goes on to express concern that “women in politics are subject to a range of
violence and intimidation and practices that adversely affect their active participation
in decision-making processes. Such forms of violence include but are not limited
to (honor) killings, actual violence and threat of violence, psycho-social torture, humiliation,
degrading treatment, intimidation, character assassination and sexual harassment,
targeting women, their relatives and supporters. Abuse of religion, culture,
traditions and patriarchal practices subvert and undermine the interest of women
and inhibit and not only prevent the scope of their political participation in decisionmaking
processes but also negate the overall development of South Asia.” 11
“By bringing a grassroots perspective to local
government, women make it more people orientated
and closer to the community it serves.”
CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE WOMEN IN LOCAL POLITICS
In recent years a number of civil society initiatives working in conjunction with the
state have been undertaken in different parts of the world to promote the role of
women in local politics. Two examples – from Turkey and India – are instructive in
understanding how such multi stakeholder initiatives can play an important role in
this regard since this is a job that a government cannot do on its own.
On September 9, 2008, a project on women in local politics was launched in Ankara
with broad participation from political parties, women parliamentarians, civil society
organisations, academics, media representatives and well known international
experts and activists aimed at increasing the number of women elected for the 2009
elections. It involved capacity building activities for present and potential women
candidates and significantly both male and female representatives of local institutions
that play a role in increased women participation in local politics and decision
making processes.
At the roundtable and workshops different stakeholders discuss chal-lenges and
lessons learnt on how women can be supported to participate in local level politics
10 Nussbaum et al. (2003); Sisodia (2005); Kalpagam and Arunachalam (2006).
11 http://www.sapint.org/uploads/DECLARATION2.pdf
WOMEN IN POLITICS DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DEMOCRACY PAGE 32