Quotas, reservations in leadership roles may go a long way in empowering women

We have finally started putting the spotlight on women at the workplace. Although we are far from meeting the numbers, at least the needle is moving somewhat. But this week, I was part of a discussion that put the spotlight on the need for women in policy and action, especially in places where they 'make' decisions. Reminds you of the boardrooms? Yes, the places on top. So our conversation was on the kind of perspectives women bring to dialogue and what they can potentially do to negotiations.

On my panel was former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and I was fascinated by her views. She admitted to the need for quotas and reservations to truly empower women leaders. She said education and economic access were not the only answers to empowering women. Kumaratunga shared in what was a revelation to me that the largest foreign exchange earners in Sri Lanka were women in sectors like plantation or garments, but yet remained terribly oppressed. "Women in Sri Lanka working in plantation, garment and in the Middle East are liberated from home, but not empowered." She argued that reservations might be a necessity even though they are not considered the ideal way. But as a corrective measure, it could go a long way.

One of the central reasons why women find themselves bereft of opportunities is because policy makers are not emphatic or sensitive to the need for women to rise up the ranks. "We have highly educated women, but we have less than three percent members of Parliament" she shared. She minced no words in spelling out the reality that if women are economically empowered or come from the higher classes, the privileged classes, then they may reach the top in their areas in their professions. Things are not too different in India. Although for now we can boast of some good representation such as the fact our foreign minister is a woman. We have had a long history of strong female political leaders. However, we have not put enough emphasis on how and why we can have more women steering policy.

Here are four reasons. One, women are an economic force today. Two, reform – policy, political and global - at the heart of it is a concept that forges social indicators and women are central to such successes. Three, development programs without consulting women can be questioned on effectiveness and four, cultural traditions inhibit women's participation in the formal economy - how can that be addressed without including more women at higher positions?

Part of my panel – organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and ORF - was former national security advisor Latha Reddy who drove home the point that women can bring valuable change and understanding to policy making. It's no longer about bringing 'soft' skills to be table, but what I would call 'smart' skills. The fact that women can contribute to tactical and strategic planning and thinking can make them a great asset. With respect to foreign policy, women can be an asset to war zones, global peace and security.

It is no longer about policy discussions and peace treaties which must involve more women, but how it must have women lead these efforts. Now that Arab Spring, Tahrir Square and other such movements saw women as central to the efforts of reform, it is time for women to occupy the head table of policy forums and negotiating tables.