Editorial
All have accepted the fact that opportunities for women to be represented in political governance to influence political decisions are an important facet of democracy and thus a vital aspect of political transformation. Women’s equal participation in decision-making and their access to political power are critical issues that have long been ignored and still not getting enough attention despite special provisions to increase women’s political participation.
Although controversial, gender quotas have been introduced with amazing speed around the world in the past two decades. Women’s under-representation in politics is a worldwide phenomenon, but today we are witnessing a growing impatience with the very slow rate of change. Although gender quotas do not solve all the problems for women in politics, constructed correctly and properly implemented, quotas may lead to historic leaps in women’s representation.
Recently in India i.e., on March 2010 Women's Reservation Bill, ensuring 33% reservation to women in Parliament and state legislative bodies, was passed in the Rajya Sabha which is definitely an achievement and a pace ahead for increasing women’s participation in politics. Legal quotas have the advantage that they are binding for all political parties, and legal sanctions or penalties for non-compliance can be enforced.
Though many factors are responsible for the marginalization of women in politics and it is definitely very important to introduce special measures to encourage women in politics. This newsletter comes as an effort to get the voices of women heard and ensure congenial environment for women in politics.
