Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy

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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
amidst a scenario where only 0.6% were mayors, 1.81% members of provincial councils, and 2.42% are members of municipal councils. The role of the media as a key opinion maker and its role in increasing awareness on this issue were reiterated. 12 In India in the year 1995 a civil society organisation called Society for Participatory research in Asia launched an ambitious and massive civil society campaign ahead of the elections to institutions of local self government in the rural areas elections (popularly known as panchayat polls in India). Called Pre Election Voters Awareness Campaign it involved three important players, namely civil society coalitions, state election commissions and the media and one of its primary purposes was to launch a special drive to ensure participation of women both as voters and candidates. Thus began a process of politicization of women for local elections regardless of whether they actually contested the local elections or not. Through this campaign some of them emerged as animators, others as engaged voters. Women candidates who chose to contest the local elections were supported not only in the constituencies reserved for women but also from unreserved constituencies to drive home the fact that women need not restrict their political aspirations to reserved constituencies only. STRATEGIES FOR CHANGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS While specific strategies to increase meaningful participation by women in politics can be context specific, drawing up some broad generalizations and guidelines are possible. 13 ´ The first of these operate at the systemic level. A quota of reserved seats for women in countries where few women have been elected filled with direct open elections with the same status as general seats work better than any form of nomination with its associated culture of patronage. A proportional system of representation and ward system appear to work better for women. It is also important that local elected representatives should be paid at a level that will allow women to participate. Funding for gender and development that emphasizes capacity building, networking and advocacy and finally recruitment by political parties of women are important steps that can be taken in this direction. ´ Systemic changes need to be backed by attitudinal changes – the culture of local government needs to change to ensure that women are treated fairly and for this gender awareness programmes for both men and women need to be developed. Local government needs to be more women friendly and consensus style politics and meetings at times that fit into other responsibilities that women have will create a more enabling environment for women in local politics. Most importantly opportunities need to be made for women to understand their roles and functions as soon as they are elected. ´ The third set of strategies is meant to increase the number of women in politics and change their subordinate status. Policies on economic and social empowerment are needed to enable women to participate on an equal footing with men. Local government needs to work closely with NGOs civil society and women’s groups to develop communities and services that take care of women’s needs. Women will be able to enter local politics only if they find financial support, childcare support and training opportunities and women’s associations for women councilors need to provide a voice for women’s views and networking. Funds need to be established to assist women to stand for election and gender disaggregated data needs to be built to increase visibility of women. 12 http://www.undp.org.tr/Gozlem2.aspx?WebSayfaNo=1571 13 Comparative Study of Women in Local Government in Asia and the Pacific, p. 8-19. WOMEN IN POLITICS DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DEMOCRACY PAGE 33
Page 1 and 2: DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DE
Page 3 and 4: DANISH INSTITUTE FOR PARTIES AND DE
Page 5 and 6: Of course this search will also bui
Page 7 and 8: CONTENTS 9 Young women in politics
Page 9 and 10: YOUNG WOMEN IN POLITICS From househ
Page 11 and 12: litical parties ‘rely on the stat
Page 13 and 14: ing able to keep up with and ‘bei
Page 15 and 16: youth population. Overall, it could
Page 17 and 18: dialogue across party lines. It als
Page 19 and 20: The program was broadly understood
Page 21 and 22: BIBLIOGRAPHY Ann, Teo Sue and Shuib
Page 23 and 24: WOMEN IN LOCAL LEVEL POLITICS Socia
Page 25 and 26: While contesting the post of an ele
Page 27 and 28: In fact training and capacity build
Page 29 and 30: enforcing these norms in ways that
Page 31: WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AT TH
Page 35 and 36: Jaipur: Rawat Publications, 2006. M
Page 37 and 38: WOMEN IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES Strug
Page 39 and 40: A year later, women in the Arab Spr
Page 41 and 42: INSTITUTIONALISED MALE DOMINANCE AN
Page 43 and 44: OPENING SPACES AND INCREASING ACCES
Page 45 and 46: GENDER AND DEMOCRACY Danish democra
Page 47 and 48: ulation were now able to read about
Page 49 and 50: y American, French, German, and Bri
Page 51 and 52: THE STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN’S REPRESEN
Page 53 and 54: On the municipal level, development
Page 55 and 56: and set new standards of female cit
Page 57 and 58: NETWORKS AND TOOLKITS Some resource
Page 59 and 60: EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR STRONGER POLIT
Page 61: MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK FOR WOMEN: IN
Page 64: CHRISTIANSBORG SEMINAR The ’Chris

Background Document - Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy

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