Women first in 2027

There was a time not long ago when Nepal had a female president, a female Speaker of the House and a female Chief Justice. Women accounted for 33% of seats in Parliament following the provision in the 2015 Constitution that mandated at least one-third female representation.

It looked like Nepal was way ahead of everyone else in the region and much of the world. But by the 2022 elections, the country regressed.

Women were token figures used by male party bosses to use Proportional Representation seats. The increase in numerical representation of women has not necessarily resulted in substantive changes for citizens. 

In the 2017 elections, political parties primarily assigned women to the deputy position in local governments with less authority than male chiefs. They treated their nominations as a mere formality, rather than a genuine commitment to female leadership.

The Local Level Election Act 2017 mandated that half the chairpersons/chiefs, vice-chairpersons, or deputy chiefs of municipalities, as well as the chief and deputy chief of District Coordination Committees must be women.

However, in the 2022 elections, the parties blatantly disregarded the quotas and deliberately fielded more male candidates. Electoral alliances and coalitions were more important for party bosses than female representation. The alliance of the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Maoist) parties meant that male candidates got the preference. Women’s representation in municipal positions declined by 20% between the two elections. 

A briefing note on gender norms in local government and women leaders by Janaki Women Awareness (JWAS) highlights the exceedingly low representation of women in 2017 and 2022. Out of 753 local units, only 18 women were elected as mayors or chairpersons, some of the municipalities just ignored the provision for the deputy to be a woman.

Much like other sectors where women face gender-based discrimination and challenges, female politicians in Nepal experience the same treatment, if not worse. Many are openly disrespected, not allowed to speak or are barred from performing their duties. Those who are doing well are barely recognised while the likes of Balen Shah and Harka Sampang hog the headlines.

All that may be about to change. A group of Nepali feminists have come together to empower local women leaders, amplify their influence within political parties and electoral structures to ensure the constitutional right to inclusion is not just promised but realised.

The Inter-Generational Feminist Forum (IGFF) has launched a nationwide campaign to secure equal representation for women at all levels of governance, and raise awareness about women’s role in local elections while challenging gender-based discrimination. 

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“Everyone, including women and men, must jointly work for this initiative if we are to have a better future ahead. Everyone must think of what our responsibility is and what contributions we must make for our upcoming generations,” says Rita Thapa, founder of Tewa and member of IGFF.

A travelling caravan called Anupam Abhiyan will follow the East-West Highway, visiting grassroots communities to promote women’s empowerment and political participation. Freedom Studio, the campaign’s creative partner, has been producing graphics and multimedia content, documenting the journey through social media platforms.

Locally-led parades and marches are being organised in Taplejung, Mustang, Sindhuli, Jumla, Parsa, Ramechhap and other districts. Their slogan ‘८४ मा महिला पहिला’ (Women First in 2027) highlights the focus on bringing judicial, inclusive, and equitable representation of women at all levels in the 2027 elections.

Rajya Laxmi Shrestha was one of many women who found their voice and independence. With training from the Women Empowerment Center in Kirtipur, Shrestha began sewing bags, turning her skills into a source of income and managing her household on her own terms, unlike in the past when she relied on her husband.

As the Anupam rally moved through Kirtipur, Rajya Laxmi played the flute and used music to communicate the movement’s message forward. The campaign spreads love and kindness so people are prioritised over power, building a sense of community and emotional attachment to those involved.

“Leadership is not a position, it is an attitude. Being a leader and performing leadership duties regardless of being in a leadership position is true leadership,” explains activist Sharu Joshi Shrestha, another IGFF member.

Shrestha likens the campaign to a sacred duty, and hopes that it will empower women from all walks of life, especially those from marginalised communities.

Regardless of legal provisions, politics is inclusive for women only on paper. In reality, it follows an entrenched patriarchal script. The campaign is an example of how women can organise themselves in solidarity and with a sense of purpose to change the way this country is governed. 

When rallying women step into leadership and claim decision-making power, real change goes a step ahead. Nepali women have already proven to be as good, if not better, managers and leaders. In the rare few wards and municipal councils where both the chair and deputy are women, they have demonstrated better governance and service delivery — even if the two are from different parties.

Read also: Can Nepal elections change its male-stream politics? Aditi Adhikari

Elsewhere, the lack of women and indigenous engagement in decision making has set back action in reproductive rights, wage equity, healthcare access, and violence against women.

Between 23-24 March, the campaign will gather in Padmalaya in Nawalpur with a focus on community health and well-being. The team also holds virtual meetings every Sunday, apart from their grassroots messaging.

One of the coordinators of Anupam Abhiyan and founder president of Mitini Nepal Laxmi Ghalan says they also focus on intersectionality such as whether it is a Dalit woman, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, or someone from any political background to ensure participation without any bias.

“If women can run households, why can’t they run the country?” Ghalan says as she highlights the importance of political engagement: “If we don’t step in at the party level, our voices will go unheard and our issues unresolved. In the upcoming elections, why settle for 33% representation when we can aim for 51%? Women deserve not just token positions but real leadership.”