Course Title:  Doctor of Philosophy in Government

Thesis Title: Women’s Political Empowerment through Affirmative Measures (Quotas): A Case Study of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh

Supervisors:  Prof Mark MacDonald Turner & Dr Anni Dugdale

Abstract: 

The real essence of democracy cannot be achieved without full and active participation of all factions of society including women. Women have not been given their due share in politics, in past, as majority of the third world countries around the globe generally consider politics as a realm of men. Nations around the globe are introducing affirmative measures or quotas to place women at decision-making positions through active participation in politics both at national and local levels. ‘Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women’ (CEDAW) was the first international resolution (1981) to suggest special measures for women’s active involvement in national as well as local politics. This was followed by Beijing Declaration 1995 which used the words ‘positive measures’ for the quick incorporation of women into politics. 189 countries of the world ratified this. Since then considerable increase in number of women entering into national and local assemblies can very well be recognized around the globe. The percentage of women in world parliaments is still far less (18.7%) than aspired 30%, however there is an increase of more than 10% in a period of less than 10 years ( 2000-2008).

Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have also introduced special measures (quotas) for women’s inclusion into assemblies. The three are basically male dominated societies and the study is analyzing the impact of the political empowerment of women through affirmative measures or quota in these neighboring countries

Short Bio:

Education

Samir Ali Sheikh, PhD Candidate Faculty of Business and Government, University of Canberra

Masters in Public Management from the University of Potsdam Germany (2004-2005).

Bachelors in Science in City and Regional Planning (1994) from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

Human Resource Development and Employment Relations, London School of Economics, London, U.K. (Short Course), 2007

Political Economy of Public Policy at the London School of Economics, London, U.K. (Short Course) 2007

Economic Development of Asian Developing Countries at the University of Renmin, Beijing, China (Short Course), 2006

Foreign Economic Relations of Developing Countries ( Short Course) in Bonn, Germany and Brussels (Belgium) 2003

Orientation tour arranged by European Commission of Pakistan to know the working modalities of European Commission( Brussels) and DFID ( U.K.) in Netherlands, Belgium and U. K. 2002

Work Experience

More than 10 years experience working in key positions as a Civil Servant in Pakistan in the Ministry of Finance, the Central Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

National Program Manger of National Capacity Building Project, UNDP, Pakistan 2007