SandeshIndia

SHARING NEWS WITH THE NETWORK MEMBERSHIP

(Kamla Nath) WEDO launched its global campaign in the year 2000 for more women in government with the support of 219 organizations in 62 countries: 50/50 by 2005: Get the Balance Right! (Socorro L. Reyes July 2001) The campaign was launched in the Philippines, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Namibia, Kenya and Bulgaria, Guyana and Indonesia-and an Asia/Pacific regional launch was mounted in the Philippines. The Guyana launch in February was a collaboration of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Caribbean Gender Equality Program, and the Women's Political Program. Guyana launched, the 50/50 campaign was timed to coincide with the nomination of candidates for the national elections in March 2001. The Guyana Constitutional Reform Act requires political parties to include a quota of 33 percent women candidates in their lists.Guyana, with a population of 700,000, has a 65-member National Assembly More than 60 women from the seven political parties were named as candidates. A record-breaking number of 20 women gained parliamentary seats and one was named as Deputy Speaker The Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics, and WEDO launched the 50/50 campaign for the Asia-Pacific region. The regional launch included presentations on gender balance in political representation, women making a difference in local government and parliament, and strategies to promote gender balance. At the end of the two-day 50/50 workshop, participants issued a final declaration: A Call to Action for Full and Equal Participation and Representation of Women in Politics. The declaration recommended that governments "take all possible measures, in particular, affirmative action such as the quota system, to speed up the attainment of gender equality and justice." In April 2001, six women's groups in Indonesia-participants in the Asia/Pacific regional launch-organized a workshop on Women in Politics. The 85 participants included representatives from the Indonesian parliament, the State Ministry for Women's Empowerment, political parties, NGOs, the media, academia and labor unions. The workshop focused on four issues: reform of electoral laws including the adoption of quotas and multi-member proportional representation; gender balance in political parties and the legislature; mass mobilization; and increased cooperation between NGOs, the government, political parties and donor agencies. The Women's Agenda for Change (WAC), the most comprehensive document by women in Malaysia was launched in May 1999. The WAC could be described as the culmination of efforts by women's NGOs in Malaysia. The document is significant because it not only addresses problems, needs, concerns and issues for women, but it covers 11 areas that also envision the nation beyond social justice issues for women.A turning point in women's activism in Malaysia took place when a group of Muslim and non-Muslim women known as the Women's Candidacy Initiative (WCI) contested the general elections of November 1999. The candidate was a Muslim woman who stood on a platform of issues shaped largely by women's agendas. This attempt to move from activism on the margins to political power at the center of public life by a women's group in Malaysia are offered as paradigmatic: for finding parallels and relevance beyond Malaysia or the issues of women in Islam. It is interesting in view of India's experience "women take a piece of the political power pie referred in the introductory note of the Network. Asia Pacific: Data on representation of women in Parliament. Bangladesh: - 10.6% of the national MPs (Members of Parliament) are women, including the Prime Minister Pakistan: 1.8% of the national MPs are women, including the Prime Minister India: - Despite the fact that India is the largest democracy in the Asia-Pacific region, it only has 7.4% women MPs in its House Nepal: 6.4% women's representation Sri Lanka: 4.7% women's representation Maldives: 6.2% women's representation Bhutan: 5.7% women's representation Philippines: 4 out of 24 national Senators are women Singapore: None, as stated by a Singapore woman regarding the political situation of women in her country: "Men govern while women provide support." Activists are using internet for developing coalitions for advocacy and organizing women's groups. This attempt of sandeshindia for a networking and having a dialogoue on political empowerment of women through the internet is really commendable. enets will empower women through sharing information.

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