Women want a greater role in peace process

Nepalese government officials and Maoists rebels have failed to include women in peace talks, according to gender activists and politicians. In April, mass demonstrations against King Gyanendra ended his direct rule and paved the way for talks between the interim government - formed by seven national parties in May - and the Maoists, who had been waging an armed rebellion in Nepal for the past 10 years. Until recently, both sides had failed to include women in their negotiating teams or in the interim constitution drafting committee, the judicial commission or the ceasefire monitoring committee, activists said. “They [the interim government and rebels] still do not recognise our existence due to their assumption that Nepalese women are not capable at all,” said Sapana Malla, a prominent lawyer and women’s rights activist. Legislative changes in 2002 provided women with improved rights to obtain abortions and to inherit parental property, but legal discrimination still prevents them from equal rights in passing citizenship to their children or foreign spouses and in relation to property, marriage and divorce. Shoba Gautam, an activist and writer, said women and girls had suffered the most during the conflict in Nepal, which had left at least 11,000 people dead. “Why do we always have to demonstrate in the streets to get the attention of the political parties?” After a series of protests in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, this month, the Maoists agreed to include two women in their 15-member committee working to replace the 1990 constitution. Women involved in the protests said the concession was too little too late. “The inclusion of women took place only on Sunday when the drafting [of a new constitution] was almost finished,” said Malla. Kamala Pant, a lawmaker among the handful of women with positions of influence in the interim government, said it was not a good situation. “It’s sad that despite the fact that millions of women took part in the anti-king uprisings, their role has been undermined.” The interim government and Maoists have both made women’s rights and equality key goals for a peaceful and democratic Nepal.