The Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus submitted a request to the Speaker of Parliament yesterday , urging amendments to the Standing Orders to prevent conduct or statements by Members of Parliament that result in women MPs being subjected to verbal harassment or insults within the parliamentary chamber.
The Tenth Parliament is noted for having the highest number of elected women representatives, who perform their duties both inside and outside the Chamber. While the Caucus has organized symbolic initiatives, such as the annual “Orange Day” as part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,” these efforts have not been effectively reflected in the conduct within Parliament, the statement noted.
The request, signed by the Chairperson of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, along with other members of the Caucus, highlighted a growing trend of verbal harassment specifically targeting women MPs in recent times.
The Caucus emphasized that such conduct is not only an individual concern but also challenges the sovereignty of the people, undermines women’s right to freely express their views, and limits their participation in politics. It further warned that this behavior sets a negative precedent for women’s political engagement in society more broadly.
To address the issue, the Caucus proposed that any behavior or speech by parliamentarians, male or female, that results in verbal harassment or insults targeting women MPs should be curbed. They suggested that this could be implemented through the section on “Discipline in Parliament” under the Standing Orders.
Accordingly, the Caucus requested the Speaker to introduce a new Standing Order to ensure appropriate action can be taken against such conduct. Several members of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus were present during the submission of the request.
