The Constituent Assembly of Nepal: An Agenda for Women - CAPWIP

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International IDEA - The Constituent Assembly of Nepal: An Agenda for WomenWomen need to start thinking in a multi-dimensional way, approaching the making of the constitution from agender perspective on all issues and with a focus on the areas of particular interest to women of Nepal. But womenmust also be full participants in the process, and not isolate themselves or allow themselves to be isolated in a'women only' box.And in order to develop their understanding and deliberation strategies further, women need to build their accessto knowledge resources and create arenas for discussion.There will be a number of challenges to be faced, but if women as a group can cross party and societal lines, shareissues of common interest with the rest of the members of the Constituent Assembly, and work with everyoneinvolved to fulfil the Constituent Assembly's aim of creating true equality between men and women on all levelsof society, much can surely be achieved.2
International IDEA - The Constituent Assembly of Nepal: An Agenda for WomenIntroduction *The 601 members of the Constituent Assembly who have been elected to make a new constitution face a task thatmay be daunting, but could be inspiring. The task, as described in the Interim Constitution, is that of making anew constitution 'by the people of Nepal themselves', through the Constituent Assembly. And the process isenvisaged as involving the restructuring of the state (of which a major part is the adoption of a federal system): 'Tobring an end to discrimination based on class, caste, language, gender, culture, religion and region' (Art. 138).Although the Interim Constitution itself does not offer a clear roadmap for the process, nor even for the principlesto guide the making of the new constitution, there can be no doubt that the process should be one that takes as aminimum the rights of women as provided for in the Interim Constitution and build on them, producing aconstitution that really reflects the needs and the concerns of the women of Nepal.There is significant number of women members of the Constituent Assembly. Some of these members are womenwith great knowledge and experience and understanding of the possibilities that the Constituent Assembly opensup for women. Some of the others may have a less clear idea of what a constitution is and how they can, throughthis process; contribute to the improvement of the position of women. The purpose of this paper is to explore theissues that women members of the Constituent Assembly, and those who in the broader society will be supportingthem and hoping to work through them, will need to address in order to achieve a good constitution for the womenof Nepal. It is not a paper of answers - it is more an agenda.* Working draft3
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