A total of 17 female candidates have registered to compete in the upcoming election in Arakan State, according to sources.
The 17 female candidates are: six from the Arakan National Party (ANP)—one for upper house parliament, three for lower house parliament and two for State parliament; six from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD)—one for upper house parliament, three for lower house parliament and two for State parliament; three from the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD)—one for upper house parliament and two for State parliament; one from the Arakan Front Party (AFP) for State parliament; and one from the Rakhine State National United Party for lower house parliament, according to their statements.
Lower House MP Daw Khin Saw Wai from the ANP said: “The inclusion ratio of women in the politics is relatively low though the ANP has submitted the names of up to six female candidates.
“Take a look at the situation in the Arakan State. It is known that women are less interested in the politics. The more MPs we have representing women in parliament, the stronger the women
become. We should increase our efforts to improve the ratio of women in politics. Six female candidates alone are not enough. I think the inclusion ratio is still relatively low,” she added.
U Khaing Kaung San, a member of Arakan State Election Monitoring Leading Committee said: “The number of female candidates from Arakan State, who will compete in the 2020 General
Election is higher than that in the 2010 and 2015 Elections. The political parties should take account of the inclusion of more women.”
“The inclusive ratio of women in politics is higher than before. On the other hand, the parties themselves will now have to take the inclusion of women in politics into consideration. I think the women who lead the women organizations, need to participate in the politics for more inclusiveness of women in parliament.
Currently, there are three female lawmakers from Arakan State—two in upper house parliament and one in lower house parliament.
There is no female lawmaker in the Arakan State parliament.
The UEC has announced that the 2020 Multi-Party Democracy General Election will be held on 8 November.
