A total of 18 female candidates from Chin State have registered to run for the parliamentary seats in the 2020 General Elections slated for 8 November, according to Chin State Election Sub-Commission.
The number of female candidates is slightly less than the 2015 election with 22 candidates. A total of 211 candidates from 12 political parties including independent candidates have registered to compete in the election.
U Lin Kyaw, Secretary of Chin State Election Sub-Commission explained “I expect more female candidates. Due to the COVID-19, many women have to stay at their home and take care of their families. The COVID-19 pandemic is a deterrent to female participation and makes it difficult for them to campaign without suffering additional stress.”
The 18 female candidates are: five for lower house parliament, six for upper house parliament and seven for Chin State parliament. Two of them will contest the election as the independent candidates.
Mai Len Neih Cer, Director of Ni Nu, an organization working for Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Among the Chins in Myanmar expressed a wider concern.
“The low participation of Chin women in politics is because Chin women themselves need to change their way of thinking and not be bound by old tradition and customs. In addition, the men who lead the political parties should give the priority to the participation of women in politics.”
“I think there should be reforms in every sector. Especially the women on their side need to make changes” Mai Len Neih Cer added,” The parties should think about the participation of women in politics all the time and not only when the election comes round.”
