Empowerment of Rural Women & Girls inNepal through Policies & Measures
Shanta Laxmi Shrestha
Chair, Beyond Beijing Committee NepalConvener, Women Major Group For Sustainable Development in Nepal
APWW EC Member

2015 The Herstoric Year for Nepal

First Female Speaker, Parliament

First Female Chief Justice,
Supreme Court

TodayNepal ‘s
Federal, Provincial Parliaments
and Local Assemblies constitute 33%
Women

Promulgation of Nepal ‘s Constitution 2015
Federal Democratic RepublicElection Commission Act, 2017
Electoral Roll Act, 2017; Election (Offence andPunishment) Act, 2017
Political Party Registration Act;Local Level Election

Factors
Contributed in Bringing Change ProgressP

People's Movement I for Democracy - Ended absolutemonarchy - party less democracy in 1990



Maoists movement for republican state 1996 to 2006 (anarmed conflict) 1996 to 2006 resulting Comprehensive Peace
Accord

People's Movement II for democratic republic stateCon..
Promulgation of the Interim Constitution ofNepal in January 15, 2007.

Women’s movement

Promulgation of the Constitution 2015 of FDR
Nepal10

Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007

Enshrine the principle of inclusiveness Ensured proportional representation
 Adoption of the First past the Post andProportional Representation election system
In CA there were 197 women (almost 32.8 %)Con..
The Constituent Assembly Member Election Act, 2007 divided
the seats under PR within- Madhesi (31.2%),- Dalits (13%),- Indigenous (37.8),- backward regions (4%), and- others (30.2%).
( women must be 50 percent from all groups ) Constitution Assembly Election in 2008
12

A Glimpse: Women’s Movement against draft
Constitution

Relay Hunger StrikeMass rally and sit –in the way to Parliamentary Building

Salient Features: The Constitution 2015 – FDR ofNepalE

Ensured minimum 33% women at Local, Provincial and Federal Reserved 40% seats (Including 1 Dalit) at Ward Committee Rural Municipality Chair and Vice-Chair must be a woman
 Municipality Chief and Deputy-chief must be a woman
 Either the president or vice-president must be a woman.
 Speaker of deputy speaker of the parliament must be awoman

Affect of Constitutional Provision in Recent Local Level
Election 2017 *Local Level : Local
GovernmentTotal% ofWard Member (Woman)

6734 NA6734100

Ward Member (Dalit woman)6529 NA6529

100

Ward Members

265

13207

13472

1.96

Ward Chairperson

626677

6739

1

Rural Municipality Chairperson
Rural Municipality Vice Chairperson

11449

460

2424

36460

92.6

7286

293

2276

17293

94

14308

20672

34980

Municipality Mayor
Municipality Deputy Mayor
Total* With Quota

40.9

Affect of Constitutional Provision in Recent Local Level Election
2017

Women in Local Government

Women in Local Government

With 2 seats reservation for
Women ward membersFemale
Male8%
41%

92%

59%

FemaleMaleScenario without reservationAffect of Constitutional Provision in Recent Local Level Election2017 *Local Level : Local Government

Total% of

Ward Members
Ward Chairperson
Rural Municipality Chairperson
Rural Municipality Vice Chairperson
Municipality Mayor
Municipality Deputy Mayor

265

13207

13472

1.96

6266776739

111449

460

2

424

36

460

92.6

7286

293

2276

17293

94

Total

1045

20672

21717

* Without Quota for Women

4.8

Affect of Constitutional Provision in Election for the House of Representative2017

Women Elected for House of Representative

Women Elected for House ofRepresentative from PR

Women Elected for House ofRepresentative

4%

24%

76%

male
female96%
MaleFemaleWe have comea long way
butthere is much toachieve.

Thank You ALL