A quarterly newsheet on women, laws and society produced by Shirkat Gah for the international solidarity network WLUML
The Newsheet is a compilation
of news clippings which do not
necessarily reflect the position
of the network WLUML or those
linked through it.
Inside...
2
Women in politics
5
Fundamentalism
10 Dress Code
16 Violence against women
22 Challenging norms, changing
laws
24 Women, rights and laws
29 Alert for action
Shirkat Gah
www.shirkatgah.org
WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE
Newsheet
VOL. XXII NO. 2
June 2010
I
NDIA: The upper house of India’s parliament has approved a bill to reserve a third of all
seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women. The bill was passed
with 186 members of the 245-seat house voting in favour. Only one member voted
against. Several smaller parties boycotted the vote. The bill’s introduction led to uproar from
opponents, resulting in the suspension of seven MPs.
First proposed in 1996, the bill now has support from India’s main parties. At present women
make up just 10% of the lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha), and significantly fewer in
state assemblies. Sonia Gandhi, Congress party president, has said she attaches the “highest
importance” to the proposals and passing them would be a “gift to the women of India.”
The bill needed the support of two-thirds of voters present in the upper house (Rajya Sabha)
for it to be passed. It will be tabled in the lower house at a later date. An overwhelming
majority there support the
move. The bill has the
support of the governing
Congress-led UPA
alliance, the BJP-led NDA
alliance and left-wing
parties. Many believe it
will help overcome gender
inequality in India and
lead to decisions that help
improve the lives of
millions of women.
bbc.co.uk
09-03-10
Indian Upper House Approves
WomenÊs Quota Bill
Congress Party supporters rejoiced in New Delhi after the bill passed Parliament’s upper house.
INTERNET
The Newsheet is a compilation
of news clippings which do not
necessarily reflect the position
of the network WLUML or those
linked through it.
Inside...
2
Women in politics
5
Fundamentalism
10 Dress Code
16 Violence against women
22 Challenging norms, changing
laws
24 Women, rights and laws
29 Alert for action
Shirkat Gah
www.shirkatgah.org
WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE
Newsheet
VOL. XXII NO. 2
June 2010
I
NDIA: The upper house of India’s parliament has approved a bill to reserve a third of all
seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women. The bill was passed
with 186 members of the 245-seat house voting in favour. Only one member voted
against. Several smaller parties boycotted the vote. The bill’s introduction led to uproar from
opponents, resulting in the suspension of seven MPs.
First proposed in 1996, the bill now has support from India’s main parties. At present women
make up just 10% of the lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha), and significantly fewer in
state assemblies. Sonia Gandhi, Congress party president, has said she attaches the “highest
importance” to the proposals and passing them would be a “gift to the women of India.”
The bill needed the support of two-thirds of voters present in the upper house (Rajya Sabha)
for it to be passed. It will be tabled in the lower house at a later date. An overwhelming
majority there support the
move. The bill has the
support of the governing
Congress-led UPA
alliance, the BJP-led NDA
alliance and left-wing
parties. Many believe it
will help overcome gender
inequality in India and
lead to decisions that help
improve the lives of
millions of women.
bbc.co.uk
09-03-10
Indian Upper House Approves
WomenÊs Quota Bill
Congress Party supporters rejoiced in New Delhi after the bill passed Parliament’s upper house.
INTERNET