The politics of 'empowerment': widening political opportunities for women

Ambika SATKUNANATHAN

Women Power: In the past few decades the South Asian region has witnessed the presence of women in government and politics. Yet, the number of women who participate in the political and decision making process is still very small.

The realm of politics continues to be dominated by males who set the agenda which remains largely negligent of, an unrepresentative to the concerns and needs of women.

In Sri Lanka, which was in the grips of an intractable civil conflict for twenty years, the lack of participation of women in the political process also means virtually no participation in, or contribution to peace negotiations and agreements. Women are however one of the groups most vulnerable to the adverse effects of war.

Given the dismal statistics in relation to women's representation in political bodies, a number of women's organisations in Sri Lanka have been involved in efforts to increase women's representation at all levels of government through training, capacity building and awareness raising, as well through engaging in advocacy and lobbying with political parties and policy makers at the national level for affirmative action as an issue of priority concern.

While these organizations have been engaging in activities to further women's political participation, it has to be pointed out that without State action (in the form of legislation and policy reform) and support, non-governmental efforts will be insufficient to make a substantial impact.

There is widespread support among women's groups in Sri Lanka for a system of quotas both at local government and provincial council levels, which would ensure that at least 30% (33% is the percentage put forward by the United Nations commission on the Status of Women) of women are elected.

A mere reservation in the party nomination list would not guarantee the election of a substantial number of women, since without a mechanism that positively guarantees a place for women they will continue to be marginalised from political and decision-making processes, and vital issues of relevance to the lives of women will continue to be determined by men.

Despite the Cabinet decision of October 13, 2004, which recognised that it was necessary to increase women's representation, no positive action has been taken to put in place measures to increase women's representation in government.

Further, both the 'Mahinda Chintana' and the UNF candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe in their 2005 Presidential Election manifestos also reiterated the need to reform local, provincial and parliamentary electoral systems and give special representation to women.

Although both major parties seem to recognise the need to increase women's political representation the lack of action points to lack of political commitment and will.

Legal amendments

As recommended by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms in its interim report of 2004, in relation to elections to local government, the ward system could be re-introduced and there could be a stipulation of 1/3 reserved seats for women on a rotating basis at each of these wards (i.e. the elections to the wards will be between women candidates only).

Where increasing the number of women in Parliament and provincial councils is concerned, the amendment of the Constitution, the Parliamentary Elections Act and Provincial Councils Act No. 2 of 1988 (as amended), is required.

This would require a change in the electoral system of Sri Lanka whereby the existing PR system is replaced with a mixed system of representation.

Where Parliamentary elections are concerned Articles 62, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 99A of the Constitution stipulate that the prevalent electoral system in the country is based on proportional representation.

These articles could be amended in order to effect a replacement of the prevalent electoral system of proportional representation with the introduction of a combination system of Proportional Representation (PR) and the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, which would maximize the participation of women.

1/3rd seats could be reserved on the constituencies elected on the FPTP and 1/3 of reservations for women when it comes to appointing members from the national list. Where the use of the proportional representation system is concerned preference voting should be abolished and 1/3rd reservation for women on nomination lists should be introduced.

The use of the PR system would compensate for any disproportionality produced by the use of the FPTP system.

Even though women play an important role campaigning and mobilizing support for political parties, they are marginalized from decision making structures within parties and ignored as potential candidates during election times, even when coming forward as candidates, often with no reasons given.

Therefore, there is urgent need to ensure at least 50 per cent women's representation within the party decision making hierarchy, particulary in exective committees, district committees, working committees and nominations committees.

Formulation and publicizing a clear, transparent and gender sensitive set of rules for selection of candidates for contesting elections by political parties can also encourage women's increased political participation.

Further, parties should also actively encourage, train and support women to enter politics. Since lack of resources is one reason that hampers women contesting elections, parties could establish a special trust fund for women candidates to assist their election campaigns.

The intense levels of violence, increase in gender specific violence associated with politics coupled with masculine combativeness and disdain towards women which characterise politics in Sri Lanka are added disincentives to women's engagement in the democratic political process.

Since the violent political climate is a crucial factor that deters women from participating in the political system, parties should take concrete action to transform the prevailing violent political culture, which has marginalized women from electoral politics.

Further in the interest of restoring the integrity of electoral politics, parties should be prohibited from placing on nomination lists those with criminal convictions.

Voting rights of Sri Lankans employed overseas is another issue that impacts upon women's political participation, since the number of women employed overseas is continually on the increase with migrant women workers making considerable contributions to the foreign exchange earnings of Sri Lanka.

The government should therefore ensure that necessary amendments are made to election laws so that Sri Lankans employed overseas can use their franchise at Presidential and Parliamentary elections held during their tenure of employment.

Media

The media could also play a pivotal role in increasing women's political participation and representation.

By being sensitive to the need to eliminate gender biased, stereotypical and negative depiction of women the media could make an important contribution to increasing women's participation in politics and the electoral process.

For example, they could profile and highlight women leaders at all levels of society thereby providing a space for women in the public sphere or they could allocate space/time and resources for discussion and debate of issues of concern to women.

During election time the media could play a crucial role in supporting women's participation in the electoral process by allocating equal access and equal time to all parties contesting, with a proviso that women candidates within political parties be given equal access to these time slots by their respective political parties.

Future of women in politics

It is undeniable women have to take the lead as policy makers to be heard. Hence, women have to be empowered to enable them to become active participants in all levels of the democratic governance process.

Although law reform is important it should be kept in mind law reform alone cannot increase women's political participation and representation.

It is also important to empower women who are engaged in, or who can or are willing to engage in transforming the State so as to create space for women and their concerns in the mainstream democratic and political process.

The training of women to enable them to acquire knowledge about the political process, which would equip them with the requisite skills to become active participations in governance, is another issue which requires the attention of both the State and non-governmental organizations.

Further, women should be supported in their efforts to assertively influence the directions of and decisions made in governance, in particular the peace process, in order to develop an agenda that is gender sensitive and realistically reflects the aspirations of the polity.

The writer is a Researcher at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Colombo.