Give More Nominations to Women at Local Government Elections to be Held in March 2011!

Women constitute 52% of Sri Lankas population, however women constitute only 2% of elected members of Local Authorities. A critical concern is the very low levels of nominations received by women (approximately 6%) from political parties (See table below). Much of the blame for this under representation must be borne by the major political parties which have consistently failed to give adequate nominations to women. They are the parties that win seats in any local election.
Nominations for women by the major political parties at the 2006 an 2010 (Jaffna) local government elections in selected districts

UPFA
Total no of nomina tions Nomin ations for women % Total no of Nomin ations

UNP
Nomin ations for women % Total no of nomina tions

JVP
Nomin ations for women % Total no of nomina tions

ITAK
Nomin ations for women %

Galle

307 284 138 427 117 29 365 1667

10 12 8 15 6 1 19 71

3.2% 4.2% 5.7% 3.5% 5.1% 3.4% 5.2% 4.2%

327 284 138 439 117 29 278 1612

15 18 2 17 3 4 17 76

4.5% 6.3% 1.4% 3.8% 2.5% 13.7% 6.1% 4.7%

327 284 138 439 103 365 1656

17 13 6 18 27 30 111

5.5% 4.5% 4.3% 4.1% 26.2% 8.2% 6.7%

133 29 162

13 4 17

9.7% 13.7% 10.4%

Badulla Moneragala
Kurunegala

Trincomalee Jaffna (MC)*2010

Colombo Total

* 2010 elections, Source: compiled by ICES from nomination lists filed at the Department of Elections

In South Asia, our immediate neighbours with whom we enjoy close historical and cultural ties, the under- representation of women at local elected political bodies have been addressed through legally enforceable quotas for women. In fact Sri Lanka remains the only country without any special measures to facilitate womens representation in Local Authorities. In Bangladesh, at least 25% of seats are reserved for women in Union Councils (1996 legislation); in India not less than 33% of seats are reserved for women and other marginalized groups in all Panchayats or Local Bodies (1992 Constitutional amendment); in Nepal 20% of Village and Municipal Councils are reserved for women (1990 Constitution); and in Pakistan 33% of seats are reserved for women at the Union, Tehsil (Municipality) and District level (2000 Devolution Plan). Obviously, all these countries have recognized the necessity for womens representation in local authorities as both a factor of development as well as a fundamental rights issue. We remind the two major political parties that such provision is necessary to fulfill promises made in Mahinda Chintanaya and Deya Dinawan Aya to the effect that nominations for women will be increased. Serious under representation of women among elected members of local government bodies has distorted the agendas of these agencies in ways that divert attention away from vital issues such as malnutrition, water and sanitation, alcoholism and gender based violence.

The government has just dissolved Local Authorities around the country and called for elections to be held in March 2011. We urge all political parties to ensure that women get at least 25% of the nominations at these elections. Unless and until nominations by political parties are substantially increased, it will not be possible to increase womens representation in Local Authorities, which in turn will continue to limit womens participation in Provincial Councils and in national level politics Signed by Women and Media Collective, Colombo Womens Development Center, Badulla Womens Resource Center, Kurunegala Uva Wellassa Govi Kantha Sanvidhanaya, Moneragala Viluthu, Center for Human Resource Development, Colombo, Trincomalee and Jaffna Home for Human Rights, Colombo and Jaffna International Center for Ethnic Studies (ICES) Colombo & Kandy Law and Society Trust, Colombo Mannar Womens Development Federation, Mannar Muslim Womens Research and Action Forum, Colombo and Kalmunai Sarvodaya Kulagana Samithiya Social Scientists Association, Colombo Sri Lanka Womens NGO Forum Womens Support Group, Colombo Sri Lanka Womens NGO Forum, Colombo