NAWO president Ruth Manorama explains that « the aim of this parliament is to train female leaders so they can increase women’s participation in politics, but also to open an alternative political space where problems are addressed from a woman’s point of view. »

_The Women’s Parliament followed all the rules set out by the Indian constitution and worked exactly like the actual parliament. Majority and opposition representatives, a prime minister and her government, budgetary vote, passing of laws, debates, all the components of genuine parliamentary life were there.

_The first law voted by this extraordinary assembly rules that 50% of representatives at the Indian parliament will be women. NAWO treasurer Shashi Sail explains: « We are convinced that a strong democracy is only possible if the Parliament is representative of the populations it represents. It is sad to see that, in a list of 133 pays, India comes 104th with less than 10 % of women in the National Parliament. Which means that it hardly represents that half of the Indian population. »

_The other laws were mostly about work conditions, social security and health: these social measures were to be funded by a 60% cut in the Defense budget, in particular. This decision comes as an echo of the international mobilization campaign Disarmament to combat poverty..

_To prepare for this large-scale event, more than 400 women’s organizations in 23 Indian states worked hand-in-hand for a year. 500 parliament representatives were elected in each of the chosen constituencies. Before the session of the Women’s Parliament, «we prepared a handbook, we trained educators who, in their turn, trained all the women representing each State in parliamentary proceedings for three days » explains Pam Rajput, president of the Parliament and NAWO vice-president.

Elsey Jacob, of the Nava Jyothi association which belongs to Fedina, partner of Frères des Hommes, was elected representative for Kanyakumari. According to her: « This session proves that women are concerned by the problems of our country and that they are able to take political decisions and to offer alternative solutions. » Ruth Manorama concludes: « A wide movement of solidarity was born among women who have never been allowed to have their say, who work hard in the fields or the factories, with no place to voice their demands and aspirations. Our Parliament allows these women to take part in democratic life and to express their views on the policies they would like to see implemented. »