On an average, women hold only 7 percent of ministerial positions and 15 percent in national parliaments in all the 9 countries of the South Asia region. In countries like Iran and Sri Lanka – women have as low as 3 percent and 6 percent share respectively, in ministerial positions and 3 percent and 5 percent share respectively of women in parliament. Source: Progress of World’s Women: Access to Justice, 2011-12, UN Women
In India, women have a share of 10 percent and 11 percent respectively in ministerial positions and the national parliament. Source: Progress of World’s Women: Access to Justice, 2011-12, UN Women
Less than half of the South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan) have a Constitutional quota for women in their National Parliaments. Source: Progress of World’s Women: Access to Justice, 2011-12, UN Women
In South Asia only 7 percent women are members of political parties. Source: World Development Report 2011
Low representation of women leaders across South Asia: Bangladesh (18.5 percent women members); Bhutan (8.5 percent women in National Assembly); Sri Lanka (4 percent women). Source: UN Women & ICRW 2011
Increasing women representation in the political sphere: Nepal’s 2007 Interim Constitution ruled that women must have at least 33 percent representation, paving the way for an increased role for women in politics. Source: Progress of World’s Women: Access to Justice, 2011-12, UN Women
Women’s under-representation in the justice system: Across South Asia, women make up less than 5 percent of the police and less than 10 percent of judges. Source: Progress of World’s Women: Access to Justice, 2011-12, UN Women
