Women’s representation will increase after elections

Sujit Mainali / March 8, 2017

                                                                                                                                                                                Graphic: Bikram Rai

The Constitution of Nepal-2015 has several provisions for increasing women’s representation in the elected bodies. If the elections of all three levels (federal parliament, provincial parliament and local level) are held in accordance with the constitution, representation of women in these bodies will increase.

Federal Parliament

Article 84(1) of the constitution has mentioned that the House of Representatives shall consist of a total of 275 members. According to Clause 8 of Article 84, at least one-third of the total number of members elected from each political party represented in the federal parliament must be women. If women are not elected so as to constitute one-third of the elected members of any political party through the first-past-the-post electoral system and through electoral college for the national assembly, such a party must elect women under the proportionate electoral system to make up for the deficit number.

National Assembly

Article 86(2) of the Constitution has mentioned that the National Assembly shall consist of 59 members. Clause 2(a) of this article states that at least three women from each province must be elected to the National Assembly. Through this provision, at least 21 women members will be elected to the National Assembly.

According to Clause 2(b) of this Article, at least one among the three members of the National Assembly nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Government of Nepal must be a woman.

With these provisions, at least 22 women members will be in the National Assembly, which is around 37 percent of the total members.

State [provincial] Assembly

Article 176 (9) of the constitution has mentioned that at least one-third of the total number of the members elected from each political party to the State Assembly must be women. If women are not elected so as to constitute one-third of the elected members of any political party through the first-past-the-post electoral system, such party must elect women under the proportionate electoral system to make up for the deficit number.

Village Executive [body]

Article 215(4) mentions that the four women members elected to the Village Assembly will be the member of Village Executive [body].

Municipal Executive [body]

Article 216(4) mentions that five women members elected to the Municipal Assembly will be the member of Municipal Executive [body].

District Coordination Committee

Article 220(3) mentions that the District Assembly shall elect the District Coordination Committee consisting of a maximum of nine members including at least three women. The District Coordination Committee shall discharge all functions required to be discharged by the District Assembly.

Village Assembly

According to Article 222, a Village Assembly shall have representation of at least two women from each ward.

Municipal Assembly

According to Article 223(3), a Municipal Assembly shall have representation of at least two women from each ward.

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