Clippings
Afganisthan
2 women vie for Afghan presidency
5th August 2009 (Source: wtop.com)
In a country where most women leave home only under the cover of a burqa, Shahla Atta wears bright pink nail polish, highlights her eyes with glitter and wants to be Afghanistan's next president.Atta, 42, is one of two women among more than 30 candidates vying for the presidency - an uphill and even dangerous undertaking.Frozan Fana, 40, the other woman running for president, who has never held political office, has scheduled campaign events throughout the south - a Taliban stronghold that includes Helmand province, where U.S. Marines and British soldiers are fighting major offensives.
Hidden behind the burqa, female candidates struggle to campaign in Afghanistan
29th July 2009 (Source: Breaking News 24/7): Sima Matin’s burqa limits her vision. It gives her migraines. Now it’s causing another problem: It’s hiding her from the voters she hopes will elect her in next month’s provincial election.For women running for office in one of the world’s most conservative countries, getting out the vote is an uphill battle against social norms. In a place where most women still wear the burqa and do not speak to men outside their immediate family, female candidates are courting danger simply by putting up posters of their uncovered faces. They risk being called prostitutes for trying to explain their platforms to male voters.
UN cites Afghan election security concerns
11th August 2009 (Source: Pakistan Times) The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan is affecting preparations for the forthcoming elections, according to a new United Nations report. The problem is particularly bad for women but Afghans want to vote despite the threats and attacks, the report said.The report, drawn up by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHCR) said the increasing violence has restricted the freedom of movement and speech of candidates and their supporters. That has prevented them from holding meetings and visiting homes to campaign, it said. In July there were four murders allegedly connected to the elections, according to the report which covered the period from June 16 to August 1. Kai Eide, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s special representative in Afghanistan and the head of UNAMA, told a press conference in Kabul that he was concerned that the rising violence would affect the turnout in the presidential and provincial elections on August 20.The report said female candidates have come under pressure from disapproving neighbors and family members.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh to increase women seats in parliament to 100
12th June 2999 (Source: Zeenews.com): Even as Indian political parties fail to reach a consensus over the Women's Reservation Bill, Bangladesh is all set to increase by more than double the number of reserved seats for women in parliament. "The number of reserved seats for women in parliament will be increased to 100 and there will be direct election in these seats," Finance Minister A M A Muhith told the House while presenting the budget for 2009-10 yesterday. The women MPs have so far been nominated by political parties on the basis of the proportion of their representation in parliament. At present, only 45 seats are reserved for women in the Bangladesh parliament.
Law demanded to protect women
25th July 2009 (Source: New Age): The Mirpur thana unit of the Samajtantrik Mahila Forum, the women wing of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, on Friday demanded enactment of a law against issuance of fatwa (religious edict) to protect the repressed women.The forum leaders formed a human chain in front of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters at Mirpur 10 in the Dhaka city and later held a rally, demanding arrest and trial of the issuers of fatwa.
India
Political carrots for India's women
20th May, 2009 (Source: IBNLive):The freshly-minted Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has wasted no time in relaying an unequivocal message to a lucrative Indian constituency - women. Close on the heels of earning political points for appointing Meira Kumar as the country's first Dalit (untouchable) woman speaker of the Lower House (Lok Sabha) last month, the UPA has now committed itself to a cachet of women-empowerment measures. As showcased by President Pratibha Patil in her parliamentary address on June 4, the UPA has now promised to reserve 50% of its seats for the fairer sex in village councils and city municipalities in its 100-day action plan. The measure is a throwback to erstwhile Congress prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's. (10th June 2009,Asia Times Online)
Former MLA's wife found begging in UP
19th August 2009 (Source: South Asia Media): From power to penury, Prema Devi has seen it all in her 80 years. The widow of a two-time legislator, considered close to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has been forced out of home and into the streets to beg for a living. Abandoned by her family, the bespectacled, frail Prema Devi was spotted collecting alms outside the District Women's Hospital in Gonda, about 200 km from the state capital Lucknow.
Women may get 50% quota in panchayats
20th August 2009 (Source: South Asia Media):UPA failed to deliver its promise of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies within 100 days but it is working to keep its word on empowerment at the grassroots -- by increasing reservation for women to 50% at the panchayat level. On Thursday, the Union Cabinet is likely to consider a proposal for 50% reservation for women in panchayats. The proposal is to amend Article 243D of the Constitution that currently provides for one-third reservation to women in panchayats. Now, it is proposed to be increased to 50%. It is through rotation that seats are allotted for reservation in panchayats.
Nepal
Only 6% women in Cabinet ministry
22nd September (Source: The Kantipur): Even though there is a provision of 33% women representatives in the Parliament of Nepal, the cabinet ministry has only 6% women. Among 33 ministers only 2 are women. Even though the women politicians have raised this issue it is not being listened. According to women politician .Suprabha Ghimire, in every sector including the political parties of Nepal women representatives are very low in number. This issue of inequality and discrimination is not being heard even in the party itself.
Pakistan
Electoral process a menace for women
30th august 2009 (Source: The News):The electoral process needs to be simplified since women have to go through great challenges during the current process of voting in the country, said Sharmila Farooqui, Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister (CM). She was addressing a dialogue session on challenges and obstacles in women’s right to vote. The event was organised by the Aurat Foundation.As a general practice, most women do not vote according to their own choices and male members of the family impose their own choices on them, Farooqui said. She said that the reason for this was the lack of education and women’s unawareness of their own rights.
Sri Lanka
CBK for women reservation in Parliament
1st August 2009 (Source: ptinews.com): Even as the women's reservation bill awaits clearance in India, former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has strongly favoured reservation for women in the Island nation's Parliament, while contending that women by nature are more caring and better negotiators in matter of state and governance.Sri Lanka is one of the countries in the whole world which has the lowest women representation in Parliament, she said while speaking on womens' role in politics and other matters here."We (Sri Lanka ) have only about 13 per cent representation (in Parliament) even at present and it was sort of similar even during my time and presidency also. I think it was slightly more 15-20 per cent (during my time) It is not satisfactory", she said.
Others
Women included in the cabinet after four Decades
17th Aug 09 (Source: Kantipur):
In Iran, for the first time after almost four decades women are being included in the cabinet. Prime Minister Mehmood Ahamdinejad said that he would include at least two women in the cabinet.
