Doubling the Numbers of Women in Parliament

Thailand’s women are celebrating their success in integrating the women’s concerns into the newly adopted 2007 Constitutions, which guaranteed equality between women and men in Articles 30, 80, 87, 97, 114 and 152. In preparing for the upcoming election, which will be held on December 23 of this year. Political parties are now opening doors for women to participate as members, and as candidates to run in the new election. The target is to double the numbers of women in the new Parliament. Tn Thailand, women never had more than 12 per cent elected to the Parliament. In the meeting of 24 August 2007, at Rama Garden Hotel in Bangkok, organized by the Gender and Development Research Institute (GDR), “We Move”, Women Political Reform Group, Women and 2550 Constitution Group, and the full support from the Government’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, female politicians from all over the country came together to discuss their problems in running for election, to learn from each other’s experiences, and to plan a new strategy for participation in the next election. Participants and organizers believe that the new constitution has given them a push, a sort of a fresh start, to get more women to run as candidates. Those who already have decided to run, will meet again on 11-12 September to map out their techniques and tactics that will bring success to their election campaigns, especially strategy on how to gain support from the local and national mass media. Listening to the strength and determination of the participants at the meeting, I have no doubt that many of them will overcome obstacles and win seats in the Parliament — doubling the numbers of women there as they all hope to do.

Filed under Gender Issues, Thailand |