S.Asian women have lowest rates of participation in govt. structures

Women in South Asia have the lowest rates of participation in their governance structures, occupying only seven per cent of the parliamentary seats, six per cent o per cent members of local government in the region.

Women account for half the population of South Asia yet they remain mostly invisible in all governing institutions. The report observes that though women hold the top positions in major political parties of the region, yet these powerful positions have not translated into positive outcomes for the majority of South Asian women.

Most political parties do not even maintain data on their female membership and few women are granted party ticket.

At the same time, it adds that gender bias pervades at all levels of governance in South Asia and that this could be one of the reasons for the region's governance crisis.
Bureau Report