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

International IDEA - The Constituent Assembly of Nepal: An Agenda for WomenHow can the women members ofthe Constituent Assemblyorganise to make the most of theopportunity?Women must begin to organise as soon as possible, within the Assembly, andwith organisations outside it, to ensure the full participation of women and thesuccess of the women's agenda for change.There has been a women's caucus in Parliament in the past and that experience may be useful (indeed, newmembers have already been meeting with old members to learn from their experience). As soon as possible, womenmembers should arrange to meet and to develop a strategy for addressing women's issues. They could arrange aconsultation with various women's organisations for brainstorming on women's issues. Each organisation couldmake a presentation on its priorities for women in the Constituent Assembly. Or maybe, related organisations couldget together and make joint presentations-to reduce overlap. The women could also invite each party to make apresentation - might encourage parties to start addressing issues. They should establish a women's caucus - with theguidance of the experienced women. They could discuss funding with donors.Specific tasks for the women at an early stage could include the following:• Study party manifestoesWork on those areas of relevance to women that are accepted by all women and develop materials and strategies,possibly with outside agencies and NGOs• Study areas of disagreement and try to minimise them• Link with women's caucuses and organisations in other countries• Develop links with mediaThen there are strategies they could develop within the Constituent Assembly:• Insist on rules that help women participate fully (no derogatory language, etc-see above)• Insist on proportionate representation of women in all committees. These must include administrative committees,such as a steering committee that will organise the work of the Assembly (so that women's agenda gets fullattention) as well as in committees on the substance of constitution, not allowing women to be pushed asideinto "women's topics") 18• Insist on women's being fully represented among the chairs of committees and among those who chair theentire Assembly, and in the staff of the Secretariat18 A recent newspaper report in Kenya said that there were plenty of women in the catering committee of that country's parliamentbut not many in other committees!22