CHR asks for quota for women in parliament as in LG bodies

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Centre for Human Rights (CHR) yesterday congratulated the women elected to Parliament and urged political parties to agree to a quota for women in parliament, akin to the local councils.

CHR executive director Surangi Ariyawansha told The Island that the number of women in parliament had usually fluctuated between eight and 12 and it was not at all adequate. “Women are around 52% of the voters and they must be adequately represented”, she said.

Ariyawansha said that the election showed that people were willing to vote for new candidates if they were adequately promoted. “A lot of people from Viyathmaga entered Parliament and most of them had no political experience. People were willing to take a chance on them because they were given adequate exposure. I believe that people will vote for women if political parties give opportunities to strong and talented women and give them exposure,” she said.

The CHR executive director added that provincial council elections would take place a few months later and it would be an opportunity for political parties to field strong female candidates. “Under the previous government there was an attempt to amend the law governing provincial council elections, but it came to a standstill. The SLPP has expressed a desire to fix the electoral system and perhaps this is an opportunity for them to bring in a quota for women in provincial councils too. CHR with our brother organization CaFFE will soon launch a campaign on this,” she said.