Where is Her + Story ?
in Sri Lankan Political HISTORY ( His + Story )
Sri Lanka ratified the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women (CEDAW) on 05th of October 1981. CEDAW articles 7 (b) states that “State parties shall
take over all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the public and
political life of the country by ensuring the right to participate in the formulation and
implementation of government policy”. Sri Lankan women have been enjoying the right exercise
the universal franchise from 1931 and are nearly 53% of the population is women. Sri Lanka also
produced the first woman Prime Minister to the World in 1960. Further, women are the major
contributors to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and Sri Lankan women’s literacy rate is
higher than other South Asian countries. All these things being true, however, women do not
represent themselves enough in political and public decision making bodies in Sir Lanka. Sri
Lanka has the worst record of women’s overall participation in national and local legislative
bodies in the South-Asian region. Though the majority of women exercise their political rights as
voters or campaigners during election times, there was only less than 4.9% of female
representation in the parliament in 2005 and in the municipality and local government level
participation was 1.7% in 2004. The percentage of women in parliament between the 1930s and
the present has never exceeded six percent.
Why women are invisible in politics?
There are various reasons and issues that are inherent in Sri Lankan politics that impeded
women’s political participation. The political party systems in Sri Lanka are highly male
dominated. The gender intensive preferential vote electoral system has discouraged women’s
participation in elections. Due to stereotyped attitudes prevailing in the society towards women,
they are not encouraged to be involved in politics. Further, the lack of child care support system
at the community level and women’s multiple reproductive roles have taken away a lot of time
that could have helped women engage in social networking. Lack of financial resources is also a
major impediment for women’s political participation. In Sri Lanka, politics is always considered
a dirty game. This is quite evident during election times because of high incidence of violence
that takes place during election time. The prevailing climate of political violence discourage
women in participating politics. In this scenario women are reluctant to participate in politics. In
addition, there are cultural barriers which increase the existing gender gaps. This is because Sri
Lanka is a conservative society with strong beliefs in cultural norms and deeply rooted prejudices
that reinforce gender stereotyping. There are some inherent problems in the discourse of women
and politics. In Sri Lanka there are very few articulated strong independent women since many
women are nominated to replace vacancies created by the resignation or death of male relatives.
In comparison with other South Asian countries, there is no special quota for women or a special
political academy for women to address their training needs and develop skills needed to
participate in politics. The proposal for a 25% quota for Sri Lankan women in local bodies was
dropped on the grounds that political parties would not be able to find women candidates.
Further the lack of opportunity for political training and skills development has been a negative
factor that impedes women’s political participation.
Without women no equality, development and peace
The Beijing Platform for action in 1995 declared that without the active participation of women
and the incorporation of women’s perspective at all levels of decision making, the goals of
equality, development and peace cannot be achieved. The rights guaranteed in international
conventions states that” women shall be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies,
established by national law, on equal terms with men, without any discrimination. The Beijing
Platform for Action 1995 Section 181 says that “Women’s equal participation in decision-making
is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy but can also be seen as a necessary
condition for women’s interest to be taken into account. This was further elaborated in 2004
General Assembly 58th Session Resolution 58/142 reaffirming that “ women’s full and equal
participation in the political process and decision making will provide a balance that more
accurately reflects the composition of society, is needed to strengthen democracy and promote its
proper functioning, plays a pivotal role in furthering women’s equal status, including improving
women’s socio-economic status, and contributes to re-defining political priorities and providing
new perspectives on political issues’’ The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) include
female representation in politics as an indication of progress towards the empowerment of
women.
In the global development discourse, development requires decisions by those control resources,
covering material as well as non-material aspects non material aspects, including political power.
The paucity of female legislators means that the interests of women are not adequately
represented in the highest body of the State. Unless women gain leadership in the State
governance, market and civil society it will be difficult to transform or shape forces of social,
political and economic processes to work in favor of women and gender equality.
Our right and fight
Despite that 7 decades have passed from the universal franchise for women, women do not
represent enough in political bodies. The percentage of women in parliament is little closer to 4%.
It is very low percentage at the local government level. After decades of struggle for gender
equality women are convinced that they have to be in the places where power exists or be in the
position to negotiate a better deal for women. It is high time to urge Sri Lankan government to
revisit all existing laws and work on brining necessary changes to existing election laws allowing
33% minimum quota of women in Parliament, half those appointed to the National List be
women, 33% minimum quota of women in local government bodies, more women ministers,
junior ministers and cabinet ministers, and political parties to increase the nomination of women
candidates at all levels. The proposed Women’s Act provides a 25% quota for women.
Shamila Daluwatte - Attorney-at-Law – Sri Lanka
This paper was written for the purpose of publishing in a Brandies Gender and
Development forum news letter. This paper is based on secondary data and primary data I
had with my own experience in the involvement of Sri Lankan Politics.