VAWIP@SAP I
Democracies without Violence: Engendering Politics, Policies and Actions
Event Type:South Asian Regional conference
Date:10-12 November, 2009
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
The gender insensitive political culture of the region has made it difficult for women politicians to firmly establish themselves in decision-making positions. The intensely competitive world of men dominated politics, patriarchal mindset and masculine culture of politics are major obstacles to women's participation. The insensitive and violent masculine political culture of the region has raised an urgent need for the issue of VAWIP to be undertaken at a regional level and addressed effectively. Gender sensitive laws, policies and provisions are currently absent in South Asian countries. Most of the National laws are silent about VAWIP and political violence is dealt with under criminal law. There seem to be no specific plans and actions to address the issues of VAWIP. Without appropriate laws, policies, provisions and mechanisms, it is not possible to address VAWIP. Violence against women in politics has not been discussed in most of the International Instruments including CEDAW. Even the SAARC gender data base has ignored violence against women in politics. Since most of the international instruments do not have explicit provisions to create a gender sensitive, safe and secure space for women to participate actively in politics, it is imperative to harmonize the existing international instruments to be adapted at the national level. Therefore, SAP International is attempting to build a policy influencing process for the incorporation of VAWIP agendas in the gender sensitive international instruments and mechanisms as well as in national legal provisions and mechanisms in South Asia.
To maintain the continuity of the regional platform to share learning and experience, SAP International is going to organize the third South Asian Regional Conference on November 10-12, 2009 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
