It’s quite surprising. Not a single woman was elected on the National Council Election 2013 poll day yesterday. It means that the National Council Parliament will not have any elected women representatives.
It worries me, and I
hope same to you. Will this undermine the voices of women? I feel that women’s
representation in the parliamentary is utmost important because over 50 percent
of the total population in Bhutan is women. Moreover, our women need many of
their issues and expectations be addressed and met. Empowering them is another
desired need.
Out of 67 Candidates who contested in the National
Council Elections 2013, five were
women. Now it calls for greater participation of women in the elections and
policy making. Women need to come out of their “comfort zone”, be courageous,
take risk and participate in the elections. Only through
political participation, you can achieve what you want to call
“women empowerment” and “gender equality”.
However, there’s one
last hope for women - that our His Majesty the King has power to elect five
more members of parliament in the NC. I hope HM’s decision would solve this
problem.
For the NC Elections
result, link here: http://www.kuenselonline.com/ncresults/index.php
...and to think women voters outnumbered men in most polling booths!
ReplyDeleteYes, the verdict was surprising! but i think it will rather come as an extra responsibility for the elected male members and will do fine, because everyone has their wife and daughters back at home!...
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it was a surprising moment as I went through this news of women not being voted during the Election.
ReplyDeleteWell, let's hope the last hope to run successfully!