Politics

Are women fairly represented in the peace-talks at the highest tables in the United Nations, where major decisions, including the fate of the nations is being deliberated upon? 

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres brought this question to the Security Council when he recently said that ‘gender equality is first and foremost a question of power, and wherever we look, power structures are dominated by men, starting at the top where women lead only 7% of countries.’ He elaborated, that especially in peace talks, for e.g. between Afghanistan government and Taliban, or in Mali, where political transitions in these countries is being discussed, the ratio of women representation remains absent or miniscule.

The Taliban, who has systematically opposed women to go to school, or work, or even leave the house without a male escort, not surprisingly, does not have a single woman in their delegation in the negotiation talks with the Afghan government at the United Nations. The Afghan delegation has four women on its negotiation delegation, but it is nowhere enough representation – when almost half of Afghan’s population is seriously dependent on the outcomes in the negotiation talks for their future. 

Germany’s Foreign Office Minister of State Michelle Muntefering highlighted that 20 years back on October 31, 2000, Security Council had declared that women’s equal participation in peace and security talks in fundamental to the future of humanity and the world, but nine Security Council Resolutions later, little has changed, as women continue to be ignored when undertaking conversations, dialogues, negotiations in post-conflict societies. 

What after all, if any, is the mechanism for accountability? If inspite of all nations paying lip-service to ensuring equal participation of women, do precious little for their advancement, both at the UN and back home, is anyone ever held responsible? If not, how will change ever come?

India joined the bandwagon by releasing the following statement yesterday –

“Violence against women and girls perpetrated by terrorists deserve our strong condemnation. Such women-targeted violence distorts the very basis on which civilised societies rest.” India said in a statement to the Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security on Thursday. India added – “It is also important that the Council strives to effectively integrate WPS (Women, Peace and Security) considerations into sanctions regimes, including by listing terrorist entities involved in violence against women in armed conflicts.” While India pointed out how it has given political representation to women at Panchayat/grassroot level, there was obvious silence on another important point that no one dare asks – why has India failed to move the Bill on women representation in its highest legislative body  – the Parliament?

To give brief idea of the dismal state of affairs of women representation in peacekeeping – 

women form only 5.4 per cent of the military and 15.1 percent of police in peacekeeping operations, facilitated by the United Nations. 

India was instrumental in providing United Nations Mission in Liberia’s first all-female- Former Police Unit (FPU) in 2007, which in turn provided critical support in deterring sexual and gender based violence amongst Liberians, providing much inspiration and solace to the Liberian women.

But overall, the level of actual commitment to women’s equality by the leaders (mostly male) is under a serious doubt as inspite of rosy words, little positive development seems to be reflected in numbers. 

More women out there – keen to change this? 

A senior leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union cabinet on 17^th September, 2020, after her husband and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal opposed the farm bills in Lok Sabha. The most astounding thing about this was that the announcement of her resignation from Narendra Modi cabinet in Parliament was made by her husband, and not herself. 

Sukhbir Badal concluded his speech in the Lok Sabha saying, “I want to make an announcement that our minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal will resign from the cabinet.”  

It came as a statement as to who was the boss in an attempt to convey a message to the protesting farmers in Punjab. 

The question which led to much speculation is whether she really resigned over the farm bill or with an eye on the upcoming elections in Punjab?

The three controversial Farm bills – The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill — were passed by the Parliament in the recently concluded Monsoon session. They have been in a pipeline for a long time, during which the Shiromani Akali Dal did not make a noticeable demonstration. So why resign now?

The instant reason is the growing protests by farmers in Punjab and Haryana. Though this protest is not being done by all the bodies of the farmers. Some groups, particularly from Maharashtra are very vocal in supporting these bills. 

These farmer bodies termed the bill as “the first step towards financial freedom for farmers” while Sukhbir Badal said that these bills will “destroy” all the good work done by the successive governments in Punjab. In Punjab, the ruling Congress party is strongly opposing the bill and taking out a “khet Bachao” rally.  

Coming back to the SAD leader, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, she told media houses that she feels “saddened” that her voice in support of farmers was not heard and she also demanded that government should legislation and should have a wider consultation.  She said, “If my voice had been heard, farmers would not have come out on roads to protest.”  

She said, “I kept on protesting ever since these ordinances were circulated for comments in the Cabinet. I was acting like a bridge between farmers and the government to clear all doubts and fears of farmers. I kept on pleading that the government should not bring these bills until all apprehensions and fears of farmers are cleared.”  

On her resignation, she said, “Please don’t see this as a resignation, as this was my duty as a representative of Punjab and of farmers.” 

Describing her tenure as minister, she said,  “it is a remarkable and most memorable period of my life.” She further added that she was satisfied that the NDA-led government delivered on many critical and long-standing issues of the Sikh community, including justice for 1984 riots victims. 

Although, Congress and several other opposition parties are opposing this, but SAD is the only NDA member who came out against these bills. 

When asked if SAD would pull out of the NDA as well, she said that it will be decided by the party and a collective decision would be taken on that issue by all the senior leaders of the party together. The assembly elections are due in Punjab in 2022. 

As per the current set-up, the BJP contests from 23 states in Punjab, while SAD contests from 94 out of 117 assembly constituencies. Now, BJP is urging for equal share risking claim to 59 seats in alliance leaving 58 to SAD, which is the oldest companion of BJP in NDA.  

By Anmol Jolly

A number of powerful women have shaped the course of history with their intelligence, strength, passion, and leadership qualities. They have challenged the status quo, made lasting reforms, and many have presided over their countries for decades, ushering in prosperity and cultural revolutions. From Zenobia who challenged the might of the Roman Empire in 3^rd century to Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and Angela Merkel, the list of women leaders is a long and illustrious one. 

Sadly though, women have always been looked on as subservient to men. They are still seen as weaker, less intelligent, and otherwise less fit than men for most tasks. Even today, whether a woman is rich or poor her role in life is kind of set from the beginning. Through marriage or prolific accomplishments, individual women have been able to merit more respect from men or other women but they are considered anomalies or exceptions due to them being very few in number. This is especially true in politics or public administration. It’s surprising that even super powers like US till date hasn’t had a female head of state. Hillary Clinton made history by becoming the first female presidential candidate of a major U.S. political party. This rise of women through history into such positions hasn’t been easy though. From having no political or voting rights to contesting for seats of power women have battled hard and to an extent managed to break the glass ceiling. It is very interesting to note that in the ancient (earlier) and middle ages, the position of women in society was much better than in the modern ages. Below is the summary of West and India in this regard.

Status Of Women: Middle Ages V. Modern Age In West

In the early Middle Ages, women had more control of their lives than they did later. They weren’t married off at early puberty, and the ones coming from wealthy families had their own property, which they kept when they married. Furthermore, upon marriage they received a dower from the husband, which could extend to several estates. They could alienate their property, bequeath it and do whatever they wanted with it. Around the twelfth century the sex ratio changed to what it is until now – more women than men. As a result, the status of women declined. They were married off much earlier to men two decades older, they had to bring a dowry, which the husband controlled, they could not study at a university (only in one – Salerno) and could not practice any “male” profession, like medicine. They were driven out of crafts that had traditionally been female, like brewing beer, and were usually not allowed to join professional and craft guilds. Nevertheless, women in the later middle ages still were much better off than women in the early nineteenth century. Until the sixteenth century, women could inherit, own and manage property, especially as widows. They could also draw up a will and bequeath their property as they chose. If a husband wasted a wife’s dowry she could (and sometimes did) take him to court. Then the patriarchal age began, when women were legally considered permanent minors – if they had property, it became their father’s, their husband’s, their brother’s. They could not inherit family property or titles. They had no legal personality, no choice. Female education declined too, and women were taught mainly useless things – at home, not at a school. In sum, medieval women were subject to man, but nowhere near the level of subjection modern women suffered.

Status Of Women: Ancient Ages V. Modern Age In India

In the ancient Indus valley civilisation of India, evidences show the worship of the mother goddess. Hence, the veneration for the mother is evident during that period. During the Rig Vedic period, it is believed that the position of wife was honoured and women’s position was acknowledged, especially in the performance of religious ceremonies. Education of young girls was considered as an important qualification for marriage. There are references in Vedic literature that in the Kshatriya society, brides had exclusive right of selecting their own consorts, which was known as ‘Swayamvara’. In Rig Vedic society, dowry system was unknown. However, the concept of marriage as a dan or gift was prevalent. Gradually, religious ceremonies were increasingly conducted by the priests resulting in weakening of the women’s eminent position in the household. Later on in the age of the epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, the position of women gradually deteriorated not only in the society but also in the family. Although this can be conflicted as there are instances of women being assertive and revered throughout both the epics. As explained above, during Vedic times, patriarchal culture had begun eliminating the matriarchal culture. The Vedic culture was widespread till the arrival of Muslims in the 8th century and with regard to patriarchal ordering of the social life, Islamic era did not differ much from that of the Vedic era. What followed the Muslim era is the British Raj in the 18th Century. It was also predominantly patriarchal. Throughout the past centuries, the patriarchy and the patriarchal social organization prevailed – so too the gender discrimination.

Role Of Women In Freedom Struggles Across The Globe

Across the globe, in various socio-economic and political movements, women have played and continue to play a very significant role alongside men. This has also helped women in shaping social and political reforms in their respective nations. Two key movements in which women have played major roles and simultaneously pushed for social reforms are:

French Revolution & The Rise Of Feminism

Women had no political rights in pre-Revolutionary France; they were considered “passive” citizens, forced to rely on men to determine what was best for them. That changed dramatically in theory as there seemingly were great advances in feminism. Feminism emerged in Paris as part of a broad demand for social and political reform. The women demanded equality to men and then moved on to a demand for the end of male domination. Their chief vehicle for agitation were pamphlets and women’s clubs, especially the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women. When the Revolution started, some women struck forcefully, using the volatile political climate to assert their active natures. In the time of the Revolution, women could not be kept out of the political sphere. They swore oaths of loyalty, “solemn declarations of patriotic allegiance, [and] affirmations of the political responsibilities of citizenship.” The Women’s March on Versailles is but one example of feminist militant activism during the French Revolution. While largely left out of the thrust for increasing rights of citizens, as the question was left indeterminate in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen,[10] activists such as Pauline Léon and Théroigne de Méricourt agitated for full citizenship for women. On 20 June 1792 a number of armed women took part in a procession that “passed through the halls of the Legislative Assembly, into the Tuileries Gardens, and then through the King’s residence.”

Indian Freedom Struggle

Sarojini Naidu ji was one of the forerunners of women’s participation in the India’s independence struggle. In August 1914, she met Mahatma Gandhi, and from then onwards devoted her energy to the freedom movement. In 1917, she led the delegation to meet Mr. Montagu for women’s suffrage. In 1918, she had a resolution passed at the special congress session in Bombay, supporting women’s franchise. In 1919, she went to England as a member of the Home Rule League deputation to give evidence before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. There, she put forward the case for women’s suffrage. In 1919, she became a campaigner for women’s satyagraha, traveling all over India to propagate the cause. As Sarojini Naidu’s political exposure grew—in 1925 she became the first Indian woman to become President of the Indian National Congress. After the Jallianwalla Bagh incident in which hundreds of men, women, and children were ruthlessly gunned down, political consciousness among women increased. This resulted in more and more women joining the national movement.

Many women stood up to the colonial patriarchy, such as Pandita Ramabai, Anandi Gopal and Savithribai Phule. Apart from these, few other extraordinary women who participated in the more than a century long freedom struggle were Durga Bhabhi who participated in an armed revolution against the British and escaped with Bhagat Singh. Rani Cheenama of Kittur who led an armed rebellion against the British in 1824. Aruna Asif Ali who participated in Quit India movement and hoisted the then Indian flag at August Kranti maidan. Begum Hazrat Mahal who was the Begum of Awadh and rebelled against the British in 1857.

Modern Day Politics In India And The Role Of Women

Despite the presence of high profile women leaders across all parties, the representation of women in Assemblies and Parliament is miniscule. An increase in women’s participation is seen only in the municipal and Panchayat level elections, especially since the reservation in the 1990’s. There is no dearth of women leaders. But the problem is bringing them to the forefront in a party that comprises mostly men. More women are contesting elections now, but because men too are contesting in large numbers, the rise of women is slow. While lineage and capital are important to bring women into politics (just as it is for men), there’s no guarantee that a party with a woman leader will give space for more women. Election Commission data have shown that women contest more in SC seats, but not ST seats as compared to general seats. It is observed that women are more likely to win when nominated. But that brings us to the question of caste, which is the very basis of politics in India. 

When the question of caste, intertwines with the status of women in the Indian society, we get a deadly combination, as the scholars of intersectionality will tell us. As the recent Hathras rape case saga reveals, the impunity with which the guilty is able to get away may not be uniform in all cases. As the 20 year old victim succumbed to injuries, leading to a massive online and on ground protest asking for justice, what came as a rather rude shock is the news of her dead body being forcibly burnt by the UP Police, at 3 AM – with her father and brother not being allowed to do the last rites. 

While the Nirbhaya case led to nation-wide protests, the fact that very less seems to have changes as regards the security of women since then, and that the stakeholders can get away with such disregard for law and justice in the rape of a lower caste girl, is telling of the concerning state of affairs in India today. 

What will change this, if anything ? Unless the women in India rise to claim their rightful position in every sphere of activity, including politics, women will continue to suffer as second rate citizens. But they need to remember the long history of struggle, many men and women who have fought hard for their rights and know that an equal world is not only possible, it is in making. It is time that women stop looking over their shoulders, with the hope that the male -dominated legislatures and executive will take their issues seriously, and find a way to organise themselves and assert themselves and their rights. 

Women are half of India’s Population and they should settle at nothing but full rights and freedom. Until then, each one of us will have to strive hard for our vision of an equal world. Because no one said it will be easy or ever has been.  

Saba Rajkotia

3^rd April 2020

On the 24^th of March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an unprecedented 3-week nation-wide lockdown to combat the Coronavirus. Although this was an essential step needed to prevent the spread of the virus, it is having unintended yet devastating effects on the nation’s poor and vulnerable.

Al Jazeera’s Kunal Purohit spoke to Manisha Uke, a farm worker who depends heavily on receiving her daily wage of 100 Indian rupees and her widow’s monthly pension of 1000 rupees from the government. After the outbreak of Coronavirus in India, both Manisha’s sources of income are no longer available. Since the enforcement of the lockdown, Manisha has run out of food and money. “So, I started feeding my three young girls rice with a chutney, made of crushed onions or tomatoes’, she says.

After finding work for one day in a neighbouring village, she was able to buy groceries from a market 10 kilometers away. But she incurred travel costs, and just getting to the market cost her three times her daily wage – 300 rupees. “So, I gave him my necklace to keep, till I can pay him back”, she said. This illustrates just how desperate the situation is becoming for India’s poor. All across the country, families in rural India will struggle to support themselves during this lockdown period – some are risking the threat of police violence in order to go out and earn money to survive.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Manisha says “I feel ashamed saying this but I don’t think I have even 100 rupees left with me. Modi should tell us how people like me are supposed to survive in this lockdown”.

The Modi government announced a $22.50bn relief package for the long-standing government food security programme in order to help the poor support themselves during the lockdown. Through this program, free food is supposed to be distributed to 800 million families, 30 million senior citizens are to receive 1000 rupees cash transfers, 200 million women to receive 500 rupees cash transfers, and free gas cylinders are to be given to families for the next three months. However, these emergency measures have not yet been implemented and it is questionable whether they can be executed in time.

The conditions of lockdown will make it very difficult for India’s poor to reap the benefits of this package, even if it is implemented successfully. “How am I supposed to reach the bank, more than 10 kilometres away to claim the cash transfers now that they shut the public transport too? I will have to pay more for the travel fare than what I get”, said Manisha.