Lady Politicians in South Asia: Facing Violence and Threats on a Continuous Basis
Lady Politicians in South Asia: Facing Violence and Threats on a Continuous Basis
South Asia is a region full of political intrigues. From Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan to Indira Gandhi in India, women politicians have always been the target of assassinations and killings. But a study backed by the United Nations now points to the many dangers faced by lady politicians in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and other South Asian nations. Fighting for their rightful place in the political scene, women politicians in South Asia are targeted by kidnappers, abusers and unscrupulous persons who engage in character assassinations, according to the researchers of this study. They found that lady politicians in India, Nepal and Pakistan are frequently targeted not only by those from opposing parties but also from detractors within their own party.
Though India guarantees the constitutional right for equality to all citizens, lady politicians often become victim of attacks by members of their own party. In any male dominated profession, it is hard to crack the glass ceiling and politics in South Asia is no exception to this rule. What is even more demoralising is that women politicians are subject to physical violence and threats in India far greater than their counterparts in Pakistan or Nepal, according to the study.
The study was conducted by a think tank known as the Centre for Social Research. Nearly 800 persons were surveyed in 3 countries-India, Pakistan and Nepal. The persons interviewed comprised of serving politicians or women who did not win elections at all three levels-federal, state and village over a span of ten years. The period for which this study was conducted was from 2003 to 2013.
The researchers who conducted the study also asked questions from Election Commission personnel, party campaigners, law enforcement officials and family members of the politicians. Gender experts and thinkers have stressed the importance of addressing this issue in South Asia as well. Emphasis has been placed that women should have a voice and an important role to play in the political arena.
But reality is very different. Gender equality is far from achieved whether it is within the parliament of the country or the village councils. A stronger presence of women leaders will benefit the average woman no end. Lady leaders have the sensitivity and capability to understand the needs of women in a more thorough way. If women have access to the highest seats of power, this can help the nation to combat gender discrimination and inequality at grassroots level, according to leading experts in this field.
Framing gender sensitive laws is very important. Often, male politicians display a disdain for the concerns of women such as safety, security and the right to dignity. Only if there is a woman at the helm would things change for the better. Male dominated politics is nothing new in the country. From the time we gained our independence, women were always relegated to the minor positions of office. Having a female prime minister was also something next to impossible. South Asia’s politics is geared towards patriarchal, male-dominated leadership which does not acknowledge that women are just and perhaps even more capable than the men when it comes to governance and administration.
If we take facts into account, the Inter Parliamentary Union has found that only 11% of the lower and upper house seats belong to women in the Indian parliament. This is against the global average of 21.4%. In Nepal and Pakistan, the scene is slightly better. The study also found that nearly 45% of women candidates in the political scene suffered violence and threats as against 21% in Pakistan and 16% in Nepal.
The institutionalisation of violence against women has even made certain male politicians so callous that they even defend the men who are the wrongdoers. In such a pathetic and dismal scenario, it is not hard to understand why women do not want to participate in the electoral process. Whichever lady candidates summon the courage and take up a fight are only threatened and intimidated. Of course, women leaders can stand up to this. But the question arises as to why they should have to bear this in the first place.
India can only hope to be a superpower if it achieves gender equality in all spheres including politics. The Indian growth story is work in progress. But it can achieve a happy ending if women leaders come to the fore.
