International Conference to increase women’s representation in Asian Politics
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the National Committee on Gender Equality of the Government of Mongolia organized the ‘Charting a Path for Political Equality in Asia’ conference at the Chinggis Hotel earlier this week. The conference drew on collective regional experiences to help the representatives devise their national plans.
Participants explored ways of drafting gender quota laws, building skills of women to take part in elections, making parliaments more gender sensitive, and strengthening political party decision-making and recruitment processes for women. They also discussed the importance of seeking alliances with male politicians in order to increase gender balance in representative bodies.
While there is no simple formula that works for every country, participants concluded that a comprehensive approach is needed for women’s equal political participation. Change will not happen overnight. Despite Asia’s impressive economic progress in recent decades, gender equality is still a distant reality for many in the region. Globally, the Asia-Pacific region is second from the bottom on women’s political participation, with women holding on average only 18.2 per cent of legislative seats.
“A basic condition for sound planning and formulation of development policies, in particular, human development policies, is the integration of gender equality goals,” said S.Batbold, Prime Minister of Mongolia, in an address delivered on his behalf.
“However, the National Report on Millennium Development Goal Progress has also alerted us about the slow progress, or even the regressing trend in women’s political participation,” said the Prime Minister.
“Political parties need to step up and reform and be institutions that include women and other excluded groups,” said Winnie Byanyima, Director of the UNDP Global Gender Team.
“Political parties are the gatekeepers for political leadership and women remain on the outside,” she added.
She commended Mongolia for its new Election Law which includes at least 20% quota for women candidates by political parties.
“But quotas alone will not get women elected nor ensure them a seat in Parliament. Political parties need to embrace women candidates and actively promote them,” said Rebeca Grynspan, UNDP Associate Administrator in a video address to the conference.
The conference participants emphasized that women’s political empowerment is crucial for achieving inclusive and equitable development.
“Women’s full and equal participation makes economies and democracies grow stronger. A government cannot be truly representative of society if women are excluded from power and decision-making processes,” she said.
There are no one-size-fits all answers for ensuring more equitable gender balance in the political arena.
Participants urged a holistic approach over time that must include a range of ingredients. Anne Stenhammer, Regional Program Director for South Asia for UNWOMEN said that it is essential to engage with men to build support for women in governance.
Providing women with the right kind of training can also give them a boost when it comes to entering into the political sphere. Maria Paixao, Vice President of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste added that building women’s skills and improving their education are priorities, as are developing gender-sensitive policies and budgeting.
The issue of quotas for women in politics was a recurring theme throughout the conference.
Pippa Norris from Harvard University said outside the meeting hall, “It is not just a simple formula of ‘add women and stir, she said.
There are many “other windows of opportunity” for countries to improve the situation of women in politics.
She said that constitutional debates open up new possibilities, and changes in party rules can provide new opportunities for women, or reforms that provide public funding for elections can help women who otherwise would not have financing to run for office.
Eighty delegates from Cambodia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste participated in the regional event. Delegations included Members of Parliament, representatives from political parties, government ministries, civil society, media and UN agencies.
Participants explored ways of drafting gender quota laws, building skills of women to take part in elections, making parliaments more gender sensitive, and strengthening political party decision-making and recruitment processes for women. They also discussed the importance of seeking alliances with male politicians in order to increase gender balance in representative bodies.
While there is no simple formula that works for every country, participants concluded that a comprehensive approach is needed for women’s equal political participation. Change will not happen overnight. Despite Asia’s impressive economic progress in recent decades, gender equality is still a distant reality for many in the region. Globally, the Asia-Pacific region is second from the bottom on women’s political participation, with women holding on average only 18.2 per cent of legislative seats.
“A basic condition for sound planning and formulation of development policies, in particular, human development policies, is the integration of gender equality goals,” said S.Batbold, Prime Minister of Mongolia, in an address delivered on his behalf.
“However, the National Report on Millennium Development Goal Progress has also alerted us about the slow progress, or even the regressing trend in women’s political participation,” said the Prime Minister.
“Political parties need to step up and reform and be institutions that include women and other excluded groups,” said Winnie Byanyima, Director of the UNDP Global Gender Team.
“Political parties are the gatekeepers for political leadership and women remain on the outside,” she added.
She commended Mongolia for its new Election Law which includes at least 20% quota for women candidates by political parties.
“But quotas alone will not get women elected nor ensure them a seat in Parliament. Political parties need to embrace women candidates and actively promote them,” said Rebeca Grynspan, UNDP Associate Administrator in a video address to the conference.
The conference participants emphasized that women’s political empowerment is crucial for achieving inclusive and equitable development.
“Women’s full and equal participation makes economies and democracies grow stronger. A government cannot be truly representative of society if women are excluded from power and decision-making processes,” she said.
There are no one-size-fits all answers for ensuring more equitable gender balance in the political arena.
Participants urged a holistic approach over time that must include a range of ingredients. Anne Stenhammer, Regional Program Director for South Asia for UNWOMEN said that it is essential to engage with men to build support for women in governance.
Providing women with the right kind of training can also give them a boost when it comes to entering into the political sphere. Maria Paixao, Vice President of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste added that building women’s skills and improving their education are priorities, as are developing gender-sensitive policies and budgeting.
The issue of quotas for women in politics was a recurring theme throughout the conference.
Pippa Norris from Harvard University said outside the meeting hall, “It is not just a simple formula of ‘add women and stir, she said.
There are many “other windows of opportunity” for countries to improve the situation of women in politics.
She said that constitutional debates open up new possibilities, and changes in party rules can provide new opportunities for women, or reforms that provide public funding for elections can help women who otherwise would not have financing to run for office.
Eighty delegates from Cambodia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste participated in the regional event. Delegations included Members of Parliament, representatives from political parties, government ministries, civil society, media and UN agencies.
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