VAWIP@SAP I
Second South Asia Regional Conference on Violence against Women in Politics conducted successfully with the concrete recommendations
In an effort to promote the participation of women in politics, the three day Second South Asian Regional Conference on Combating Violence Against Women In Politics (VAWIP): Revisiting policies, politics and participation, has successfully been held in Kathmandu from 16-18 November, 2008. The main objective of organizing the conference was to create a civil society forum to discuss the existing national laws, policies and provisions of South Asian nations for reducing the incidents of violence against women in politics (VAWIP). The conference also showcased the stories and best practices of women politicians who have successfully overcome the hindrances confronting their careers. This conference was specifically significant in South Asian context where most of the South Asian countries have been led by women political leaders. In spite of this issues of violence and challenges of increasing women's participation in politics have not been overcome.
The conference, which is the second of its kind in the region, was inaugurated with a dance performance to showcase the many faces of violence that women politicians have to confront. The three day event had all together five sessions on three different themes relating to Violence Against Women in Politics in which experts of the field presented their papers and share their experiences. General themes and agendas of the session were :
- Gender sensitive VAWIP policy environment - a) International standards of national laws, policies and provisions b) Responsive and responsible roles of election commission and judiciary and c) Affirmative agenda of political parties.
- Coping mechanism> of VAWIP - Formal mechanism and Informal Support system
- Collaboration for combating VAWIP - National policy influencing strategic actions and; Actions for harmonizing and adapting international instruments.
The conference called for a new alliance with the women politician, media, lawyers, judges, human rights activists, legal institutions, academicians, researchers, youths, women from grassroots and all who can take the women's agenda forward and can contribute towards policy influencing process. The conference attempted towards building a policy influencing process for the incorporation of VAWIP agendas in the gender sensitive international instruments and mechanisms. The conference also discusses the role of the election commission and the judiciary in enhancing the safe and secure participation of women in politics.
Some eminent personalities in the field of governance and activism from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka along with participants from UK, Australia, Mauritius and Canada attend the conference to share their learning on national laws, policies, and provisions from a VAWIP perspective. The three-day session was attended by prominent Nepalese women leaders including Chitralekha Yadav, Former Deputy Speaker Nepal and Sahana Pradhan, Former Foreign Minister, Nepal. Dr. Rohit Kumar Nepali, the executive director of SAP International highlighted the objectives of the conference in inauguration session and facilitated the conference for three days. Welcoming all the participants in the conference he mentioned that although violence against women in politics occurs both physically and psychologically, the later is more common in the region. Character assassination of women politicians is a common form of violence along with murder, rape, abductions, kidnapping, intimidation and torture to women politicians as well as their family members," he said.
The conference was participated by around hundred participants including 30 participants from South Asian countries and few from UK and Canada. Some key speakers of the conference were, Ms. Chandani Joshi, Former Regional Director UNIFEM, Hon. Neel Kantha Uprety, Election Commissioner, Hon. Judge Kalyan Shrestha, Supreme Court, Mr Ram Krishna Timilsina, Registrar, Supreme Court, Ms. Sabita Baral and Ms. Geeta Pathak lawyer from Nepal. Hon. Judge Mahfuza Folad, Ms Suraia Perlika, politician, Dr. Nazir Qayome, Najeeba Sultani share the challenges and struggle of women politician in a country like Afghanistan. The number of participants from Bangladesah and Sri Lanka was low comparative to the participants from other South Asian countries. Ms Sharmini Boyle-Chief Editor, Young Asia TV and Ms. Camena Guneratne, Sr Lecturer provided their valuable inputs by participating in the conference represeting Sri Lanka Ms. Riffat Javaid Kahlon, Ex- Member of National Assembly, Ms Farzana Mumtaz and Ms Sabina Ayaz; Aurat Foundation, Ms Rabbiya Bajwa, lawyer shared experiences and status of women politician in Pakistan. Similarly, Ms Nazly Qumrunnessa and Ms Kohinoor Begum, lawyer were the speakers from Bangladesh and Mr. Venkat Rammnayya, Executive Director Youth for Action and Dr. Sumona DasGupta from India.
VAWIP Advisory Committee Members presented the country papers in the conference and share the situation of VAWIP in national level and the provisions of national laws in addressing the issues of VAWIP. Syed Narul Alam presented the national paper of Bangladesh writtten by Ms. Zarina Raheman Khan. Ms. Martha Farell presented the national paper of India. Ms. Riffat Javaid Kahlon presented the national paper of Pakistan written by Mohammed Asif. Similarly, Ms. Camena Guneratne presented the national paper of Sri Lanka jointly written by VAWIP advisory committee member Prof. Savitri W E Goonesekere and herself. Mr. Sabin Shrestha presented the national paper of Nepal written by VAWIP advisory committee member Ms Sapana Pradhan Malla.
Representatives from within the SAP system; Mr. Syed Narul Alam from SAP Bangladesh, Mr. Richard Harmston from SAP Canada, Ms. Zakia Arshad SAP Pakistan also contributed by participating and providing their inputs in the conference.
Besides these regional figures there were some women politicians from grassroot politics who share their experiences and struggle in political career. The experiences and inputs of everyone helped in developing strategies and mechanism that will influence national laws, policies and provisions for creating a congenial environment for women's participation in politics. This consolidated effort of the civil society coupled with experiences of legal professionals, the election commission and political leaders will surely help to overcome the challenges faced by women in politics.
Meanwhile, announcing the Kathmandu declarations, the representatives from the region have demanded to reclaim the peace and liberty of the people of South Asia wherein women play a central role. "Peace is not merely the absence of disorder, war and unrest. Instead peace is an environment that encourages creativity, a better quality of life, space for people to raise voices, enjoyment of fundamental rights and human securities so that we may prosper in freedom," reads the declaration. The declaration of this conference had urged the Governments of South Asia to adopt existing international instruments like CEDAW, UNSCR 1325 and CPRW in national laws and policies, rather than just be signatories to them. Further to this, the declaration also demanded the SAARC to incorporate the data or statistics in the SAARC database regarding the level of women in politics in South Asian region. The representatives have also condemned the existing paradigm of power politics that is inherently violent, corrupt and patriarchal. They have sought for redefining of politics based on participation, inclusiveness, justice, transparency and democracy.
This common platform was offered by South Asia Partnership International in support of Oxfam Novib, Netherlands. This conference was organized in collaboration with International IDEA, UNFPA and Care Nepal. It would not have been possible to conduct this second regional conference without the support of SAP nationals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka and partner in India.
Celebrating Womanhood 2008
The first Celebrating Womanhood Regional Awards encapsulating the 7 SAARC countries concluded successfully on October 20, 2008. The awards were presented on the same night as the Celebrating Womanhood Navadevi Awards.
Celebrating Womanhood is based on recognizing the strengths of women and celebrating their achievements. The Regional Awards aimed to encourage sharing and learning from the experiences, skills, knowledge and wisdom of the women who have pressed on in their quest to create opportunities despite adversities. The recipients were chosen on the basis of their contribution to their respective area of work in recent years.
In addition to honoring nine exemplary women from Nepal, the evening saw felicitation of women from seven SAARC countries: Nahid Bashardost for her contribution in preservation of culture in Afghanistan, Syeda Rizwana Hasan for Environmental conservation in Bangladesh, Chimi Wangmo for economic empowerment in Bhutan, Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath for her commitment in bringing Social harmony in India, Dr. Meena Singh Khadka for her contribution in Education sector of Nepal, Nafisa Shah for her exemplary contribution to good governance in Pakistan and Pearl Stephen for her tireless efforts towards establishing Peace in Sri Lanka. The categories were decided on the basis of the women's contribution in bringing about changes in the sector that is most needed by that particular country.
The event started with a stupefying performance by Mithila Sharma about women power. Similarly, folk dancers from International Dance Centre presented a performance in a musical ballet 'Danphe Chari', which was composed by Gopal Yonzon. An audio visual about a custom in Khotang district was shown which was about butternut tree and its importance in the life of a Khotang girl.
The domain of 'Celebrating Womanhood Navadevi Awards for Nepali Women', established in 2002, was enhanced to South Asia women this time to encourage their skills, knowledge and wisdom. SAP International had joined hands with Creative Statements (the organizer) to support the event.
