Nepal Elects its First Female President

Dr. Maneshka Eliatamby and Meena Sharma

Nepal made history once again when its Parliament elected the first president under the country’s new constitution. Bidya Bhandari's presidency has already made history in Nepal. She is the first female to be considered for this position in South Asia’s newest republic. This is despite the fact that at the national level, not a single female is represented in the new cabinet. Thus, her being voted in as President is in itself a victory for females in Nepal and indicates the great strides that have been made by women's rights advocates and women's empowerment in the country.

A Decade and a Half of Efforts

In 2015 the world celebrates 15 years since the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This resolution paved the way for the exploration of inclusive security, ensuring women’s engagement and representation at all levels of decision-making. Nepal is the first country in South Asia, and second in Asia, to have developed a National Action Plan to implement UNSCR 1325 and 1820. This is reiterated by the United Nations in their newest set of goals—the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The fifth article in the 16 goal resolution states that “While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality  and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.”

Lessons from South Asia

Today, Nepal joins the the ranks of its fellow South Asian countries and can boast a female as its leader. This region is no stranger to women as leaders in government. The first female leader elected to power in the world came from the tiny island of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1960 when she was elected to office upon her husbands’ assassination. Similarly, India had Indira Gandhi, Pakistan had Benazir Bhuto and Bangladesh had Begum Khalid Azia. All of these women were trailblazers in their own right. However, their leadership was often overshadowed by a common trait that they all shared—they were all either the wife of or daughter of a male politician, and their leadership was often marred by the shadow of their male relatives. This often led to a diminishing of their status and power.

When one stops to assess this situation, one fact stands out clearly. Female role models for young girls and women in South Asia, especially in traditional patriarchal countries, are few and far between. Unlike young boys and men who are often groomed into politics and leadership positions by older males and society—where even the local team rooms become grooming grounds for male leaders, girls and women are not afforded the same opportunities. Thus, their paths to political and other office is not paved, unless of course they become the wife of or the daughter of a political leader.

An Epitome of Hope

It is indeed time to celebrate in the Kingdom turned latest Republic of South Asia, as it prepares for Bidya Bhandari's presidency. Learning from the lessons of fellow South Asian countries, having a woman as president should not be a mere façade. It should be followed through with real and meaningful empowerment that serves as a shining example for young girls and women throughout the country and the region. Bidya Bhandari’s presidency, which was a distant dream just a few weeks ago, now serves as a symbol of the positive changes that are occurring at the top of the world!

Dr. Maneshka Eliatamby is a peacebuilding practitioner and published author. Both Dr. Maneshka Eliatamby and Meena Sharma work at Search for Common Ground.