Govt ready to amend law to increase women’s representation

Kathmandu: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Govinda Prasad Sharma Koirala, has said necessary amendment regarding proportional representation of women in upcoming election would be done if the existing law is an obstacle to it.

Responding to queries from MPs during deliberations on the proposal of public importance regarding proportional representation of women in upcoming federal and province assembly election in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister Sharma shared that women’s representation is being ensured gradually in Nepal’s history and it would be increased practically in coming days.

He laid emphasis on the need of removing any legal, policy, attitudinal and practical obstacles, adding capacity building programme should be launched.

The Law Minister expressed commitment that the government was ready to make legal amendment as per the constitution by carrying out detail study on the state of obstruction and structural aspects.

As Nepal is also a party to various international treaties and conventions concerning women’s participation, all have a role to take initiatives to increase women’s participation in coming election, he mentioned.

Minister Sharma further said that although the election date has been announced, laws related to election as well as other laws would be tabled in the Parliament.

Lawmakers—Nirudevi Pal, Khagaraj Adhikari, Durga Poudel, Satya Pahadi, Narayan Prasad Khatiwada, Parbata DC Chaudhary and Mahesh Basnet, among others took part in the deliberations. 

The HoR would meet next at 1:00 pm tomorrow.