In a bid to ensure increased access for women in Nepal’s political sphere — as voters, but more importantly, as candidates — particularly in the context of the upcoming local elections, the United Nations Country Team, in collaboration with the Election Commission and SAJHA Abhiyan (women’s coalition), is all set to host a national conference in Kathmandu on 20-21 April. The conference on Women’s Leadership and Representation in Local Governance is aimed at developing a common charter of demands for gender and inclusion responsive local governance, advocating with political parties on the charter and voting on the basis of the common demands. 

 

With the participation of women leaders from across Nepal, along with members of SAJHA Abhiyan, Inter-Party Women’s Alliance, government agencies, EWG members, political parties, UN agencies and the media, the conference will entail pushing for gender equality and inclusion-focused voter education; increasing the understanding of the provisions of the Constitution and the Local Level Election Act 2017 on women’s leadership and representation; and identifying critical action points to ensure that the local elections are gender responsive.