WARC Urges 33% Female Representation in Local Government Offices

The Women's Affairs Reform Commission (WARC) has urged the interim government to ensure at least one-third female representation in all local government offices. This recommendation was part of a comprehensive set of reforms submitted to the Chief Adviser at Jamuna on April 19 by WARC Chairperson Shireen Parveen Haque and other commission members.

In total, WARC presented 15 key recommendations aimed at advancing women's rights and participation. These include constitutional recognition of women, increased inclusion in national and local governance, active roles in mass media, decentralization to strengthen local-level development, and creating a violence-free society for women and girls.

The proposed reforms are grouped under several thematic areas: constitutional and legal rights, institutional advancement of women, decentralized development, protection from violence, enhanced public participation, education and skill development, women's health, economic inclusion, labor rights, safe migration, social security, media participation, cultural involvement, and gender-sensitive disaster and climate response.

WARC placed special emphasis on reviewing existing laws to strengthen protections against violence towards women and children.