WOMEN CAN DO IT

WOMEN CAN DO IT

by DIPD on March 8, 2016

IW8C6757

The celebration of the international women’s day in Myanmar was a grand opportunity to move the agenda on women in politics in Myanmar.

Photo: Former Danish MP, Fatma Øktem sharing her point of view in the panel discussion

Seminar on Womens representation in politics

The seminar on women in politics organized by DIPD in the capital of Myanmar is aiming at strengthening the preparedness of party leadership to make joint commitments on women in politics. Hanne Lund Madsen from DIPD in her opening address stressed the importance of cross-party cooperation to initiate party action on priority concerns of women, discussing efforts to reform parties to become more gender responsive, and building capacity development of women through mentoring and networking.

Women leaders engaging in informal conversation

Photo: DIPD Senior Advisor, Hanne Lund Madsen engaging with the participants

Sharing Experience

At the seminar the experiences of women and political parties in Nepal, Bhutan and Denmark were shared along several dimensions, while taking stock of the progress in Myanmar. The seminar shared the experience of Nepal in building advocacy skills to target party leadership to make joint commitments on women in politics and start intra-party action on priority concerns of women like combating violence against women.

Fatma Øktem, former MP from the Danish Liberal Party, stressed that “the members of parliament and the political parties need to show the way forward in strengthening gender equality”. Moreover she stressed the importance of making changes where changes will really matter for the lifes and political opportunities of women.

In reference to parties taking the lead, Jeetendra Dev, MP from Nepal, pointed out that the political parties in Nepal had joined hands for the advancement of women and issued several joint initiatives. “ The political parties in Nepal have realised that women participation in all aspects of political life is essential for democracy”.

“ A mental and cultural revolution is needed in the political parties in order to realise that the involvement of women is of tremendous benefit to the political parties and indispensable in a true inclusive democracy. But constitutional provisions are also needed” he added.

Asia perspectives in Women's political representation Panel session

Photo: Paneldiscussion on womens political representation in an Asian context

The Bhutan representative, Dechen Zangmo, MP, in a similar manner stressed the need for engagement at all levels of society for advancement of women. She moreover stressed the need for being inspired by role- models such as Aung San Sui Kyi. The Bhutan National Action Plan for the advancement of women is an example of a multi-sector initiative that has put tangible results on gender equality as a top priority as outlined by Tshewang Lhamo from the National Commission for Women and Children in Bhutan

In the panel debate Shrishti Rana also pointed to the importance of Women coming forward taking responsibilities and men being prepared to take on the task of grooming women for leadership.

The newly elected MP in Myanmar Shwe Shwe Latt shared the experiences during the campaign period and stressed that even that many women candidates were not elected, women played a crucial role in the elections in other ways – for example in their strong volunteer engagement or as heads of most of the polling stations.

Let us fight together

The seminar raised many questions related to quota systems, cultural barriers and discriminatory practices, legal provisions, mentoring programmes, the need for constructive engagement between political parties and CSO in the field of gender.

Having listened to the testimonies from Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Denmark, Shrishti Rana, DIPD Representative in Nepal in her closing remark concluded: “ We today see that across countries we have many similar challenges on gender equality, so lets us fight it together!”.

More information

Hanne Lund Madsen, DIPD senior advisor – hlm@dipd.dk

Shristy Rana, DIPD representative in Nepal – shrishti@dipd.org.np

Thazin Myint, DIPD coordinator in Myanmar – ktzm@dipd.dk

From: Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, News and updates