Structural exclusion keeps women from Nepali politics, say organisers of  open public dialogue

KATHMANDU: Organisers of an open public dialogue held in Narayanchaur, Naxal, on Saturday said the continued marginalisation of women in Nepali politics stems from deliberate structural barriers rather than a lack of individual capacity.

The event, titled 'Excluded by Design: Women, Politics, and Ethical Failure', was jointly organised by World of Women (WOW) Magazine, Project Abhaya, and She Leads Icon. It brought together women leaders, political representatives, Gen-Z voices, civil society members and journalists to examine why constitutional guarantees of inclusion have not translated into equal participation in policy‑making and decision‑making.

Speakers and organisers pointed to a stark gap between law and practice, noting that women make up 52% of the population but accounted for only 395 of the 3,484 nominees in the recent House of Representatives (HoR) election nominations. They described the disparity as evidence of democratic failure rooted in a lack of political will and structural commitment, and argued that the repeated exclusion of women from power, resources and candidacies reflects planned structural barriers rather than coincidence.

Participants raised questions about party nomination processes, resource allocation and institutional practices that they said systematically limit women’s access to leadership roles. The dialogue included personal testimonies, policy critiques and discussions of practical measures to increase women’s representation at all levels of government.

Organisers also underscored the role of journalism in sustaining public debate on democracy, inclusivity and accountability, and urged the media to continue highlighting these issues to pressure institutions and political parties into action.

The programme featured a wide range of speakers, including educator and activist Reshu Aryal Dhungana; senior political leader and former minister Hisila Yami; journalists Tikaram Yatri and Rajendra Baniya; former education minister Sumana Shrestha; Nepal’s first female chief minister Astha Laxmi Shakya; local government representatives such as Meena Kumari Lama, mayor of Hetauda Sub‑metropolitan City, and Bina Kumari Bhattarai, deputy mayor of Thakurbaba Municipality; Gen Z activists Raksha Bam and Prakriti Dhakal; and experts on gender equality and governance, including Bharti Silwal Giri and Sharu Joshi Shrestha.

The initiative was led by Charu Chadha, Editor of Media Nine; Ishika Pant, Founder of Project Abhaya; and Pooja Koirala, Head of She Leads Icon. Organisers said the dialogue aimed to move beyond rhetoric towards concrete proposals to address structural exclusion and expand women’s influence in Nepali politics.