LOCAL GOVERNMENT / ELECTION PREPARATIONS

Women in politics campaign

ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security yesterday launched a campaign to try and help women gain the skills and confidence to give men a run for their money in the local administration elections later this year. The campaign is aimed at promoting the role of women in local politics and hopes to double the number of female officials in local government.

Ten organisations have signed up to support the campaign, including the Provincial Administration Organisation Council, the Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) Council, the Interior Ministry, and the Election Commission.

At least 2,000 women will take part in the project, which begins next month, including 440 leaders from 88 TAOs and 1,750 female candidates from 350 TAOs.

Assoc Prof Achara Chittaladakorn, of Sukhothai Thammathirat University which is responsible for the training, said the course will provide the candidates with election skills to shape policies, improve their persona and canvass for votes.

Statistics from the Interior Ministry show that women account for just 6.73% of TAO members, and 5.8% in local administrative bodies.

Tuenjai Buraparat, chairperson of the Association of Women Leaders for Thai Community Development, said most women lack the confidence to run against men and are afraid of losing in elections.

Deputy Social Development and Human Security Minister Poldej Pinprateep said the training would help boost women's confidence to contest for top positions.

He said women are often polite, tender, and more compromising than their male counterparts. The input of a female perspective in problem solving can make a real difference, he said.

Bangkok Post

Saturday March 31, 2007