WOMEN ACROSS ASIA PACIFIC URGE SUPPORT FOR INDIA’S WOMEN’S RESERVATION BILL

On behalf of 180 member organisations and activists across 25 Asia Pacific nations, we, the women of Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, call upon the Indian Parliament to pass the Women’s Reservation Bill without delay.  In compliance with India’s obligation to international human rights treaties; in allegiance to India’s own constitution; and in line with progressive forces that champion democracy and equality, we urge the passage of this bill to reserve 33% of Indian Parliamentary seats for women.

This bill will secure the critical mass of women in Parliament that is necessary to bring about transformative politics. In Parliaments across the region that have implemented similar ‘special temporary measures’, the resulting gender equality in political decision making has been invaluable to all members of society. From legislation that protects women from violence to state budgets that are gender responsive, reservation of political seats for women has expanded the notions of good governance.

Already in India, reservations for women in rural and urban local bodies have facilitated the entry of millions of women into public decision making fora. Today, women from across castes, classes, religions and regions are bringing previously marginalised voices into decision making bodies and expanding the notions of ‘development’ and ‘rights’. Reservations for women in national and state assemblies are a significant way to guarantee women’s participation in State policy formulation and decision making processes at all levels.

As India has been a State party to the Convention on The Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and specifically ratified Article 7, the Beijing Platform for Action (G1-G2) and MDG 3, it has legally bound itself to the principles of non-discrimination and gender equality in political and public life. APWLD considers adoption and implementation of reservations as compliance with these international covenants.

Moreover, the meaningful and lawful inclusion of women in the decision making bodies of a nation affirms the overall legitimacy of a nation’s political system. APWLD endorses the 33 Percent Now campaign in India and looks forward to a result that embraces inclusion, equality and social justice.

In Solidarity,

APWLD