Kazi, Seema2010-06-222010-06-222010http://hdl.handle.net/10625/43868The paper emphasizes the importance of gender equality as a core guiding principle of democratic governance. It examines trends in women’s participation in governance bodies in each national context (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal) and highlights cross-national examples of collaborative activism. The advantages and limits of reserved quotas for women’s political presence are analysed and summed up. The inclusion of women in political institutions is an important yet insufficient condition for challenging the political status quo; class disparities flowing from socio-economic inequality must be addressed simultaneously.Text1 digital file (29 p. )enWOMEN'S RIGHTSGENDER EQUALITYWOMEN'S PARTICIPATIONPOLITICAL PARTICIPATIONPOLITICAL PARTIESDEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCESOCIAL CHANGEASIAPOLITICAL REPRESENTATIONCONVENTION OF ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW)CEDAWWOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONSWOMEN IN POLITICSINDIAPAKISTANNEPALSRI LANKAGENDER DISCRIMINATIONConsultant Report