The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights celebrated this Friday the approval, by the chambers of the Indian parliament, of a law that reserves one third of the seats in the country’s lower house and regional assemblies for women.
For Volker Türk, this law represents a “transformative step” in the legislation of the Asian country, since the proposal had been stalled for almost three decades and its approval had failed on four previous occasions.
“This historic bill will also constitutionally strengthen women’s representation in parliament and will be a transformative step in defending women’s right to participate. [na vida política] and gender equality in India,” Türk explained in a statement released today.
The bill was approved almost unanimously by deputies in the lower house of the Indian parliament on Wednesday and a day later by those in the upper house.
The entry into force of this measure, however, requires the ratification of at least 50% of the country’s states, so it will not affect the next general elections in 2024.
In this sense, Türk asked the Indian Government to adopt the new system “as quickly as possible” and to guarantee the maintenance of existing quotas for the so-called lower castes, such as Dalits or “untouchables”, and for marginalized tribal communities.
“We emphasize the importance of promoting an enabling environment for the participation of women of all backgrounds in public life, which can have profound and positive implications for society as a whole,” said the High Commissioner.
Türk also called on parliamentarians around the world to do the same and adopt legislative measures that guarantee a “central place” for women in political discourse, in “full parity” with men.
Source: TSF
