An interim working committee has been formed to promote women’s participation in politics and leadership. The committee was formed during the two-day Bhutan Women Leaders Caucus held in Thimphu.The caucus brought together women from various professional backgrounds from across the country.
Reena Thapa, Chief Programme Officer of the National Commission for Women and Children, said there is a need to develop rules and regulations and review relevant acts and laws to enable and encourage women’s participation in politics and leadership.
“The need for the development of rules and regulations has come out strong. In addition to this, there is also a need to review relevant acts and laws that will enable and encourage women’s participation in politics and also leadership,” she said.
Sangay Lhamo, Orong Mangmi, Samdrup Jongkhar, said women are equally capable of leading and making decisions. However, she said greater public awareness of women’s capabilities is needed.
“I believe women are equally capable of leading and making decisions. However, we need to create greater awareness among the public about women’s capabilities. Women who are already in politics should also lead by example, as this can help change public perceptions and build greater trust in women leaders,” she said.
Graca Maria Sanchez, Gender Specialist at the Inter-Parliamentary Union, said women leaders must work together to define their priorities and goals.
“For me, the most important thing is that the defining of priority and goals should be done together. It means that all those women leaders that are in this room today, they need to be clear on the goals they want to achieve in Bhutan,” she said.
The ten-member committee will now identify existing laws that may need to be reviewed and discuss the rules and regulations required to guide them.
Sherub Dadron Palzom
Edited by Passang
