Quota: Empowering Women or Reinforcing Marginality? Bangladesh Experience Dr. Najma Chowdhury Bushra Chowdhury University of Dhaka

2 Quota: an empowering tool? Setting the context Features of Bangladesh experience Hierarchical gender relations Limited women’s political participation Quota introduced to strengthen women’s political status Quota: an instrument of patriarchal control

3 Constitutional Provisions Parliament 300 seats from single member territorial constituencies 15 seats reserved for women elected by members from 300 seats This arrangement to continue for 10 years

4 Constitutional Provisions Subsequent changes Reserved seats increased to 30 for 15 years Method of election remains the same Reserved seats increased to 45 Method of election- ‘proportional representation’

5 Quota or Reserved Seats? Quota Affirmative action ‘Fast track’ access to national parliament Discourse on Quota Increased membership of under/un-represented Small minorities turn into large minorities

6 Quota or Reserved Seats? Continued Reaching a critical mass Inherently dynamic Debate on Reservation Visibility vs. empowerment

7 Quota Implementation Features Quota led to limited entry of women (4.5% in 1972 to 13% in 2006) Mode of election: paradoxical Reserved seats remained marginalized and prone to political manipulation

8 Reserved Seats in Local Government Constitutional Provision (Art. 9)- special representation of women Union Parishad (UP)- one fourth membership reserved for women Direct election to reserved seats women in 4228 UPs Awareness of rights and status

9 Gains Made by Quota Political representation Governance Women’s agenda Role model Political space

10 Negative Impact on Women’s Status Political dependence Constituency linkages Political status Manipulation of women’s seats Shrinking of democratic space

11 Lessons Learnt Increase the number and proportion of seats Introduce quota across the board Democratize the electoral process Develop a twin strategy Organize for support and motivation Forge alliances

12 Why the Resistance Apprehension by those in power that sharing would lead to diminution of power Institutional culture of resistance to change work mode or agenda

13 Concluding Comments Election Commission reform measures Quota for women across the board at 33% Women’s movement welcome reform package Some political parties non-committed Others see them as unpractical and impossible to implement