Nepal, March 27 -- While I am hopeful about the new government, one word is stuck in my brain, that word, or mantra even, is inclusion. With the top leadership of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) mostly men, women were already woefully excluded, with only 16 female candidates fielded in the election. Of them, 13 won in their constituencies. The upcoming Cabinet also looks to be short of women.

The RSP has appointed 48 women to its 57 Proportional Representation (PR) seats; 24 of these women are of Khas Arya or Newa origin, leaving only the remaining half for other marginalised and indigenous groups. This election, 96 women have become Members of Parliament (MPs), making up 35 percent of Parliament, which is the highest so far in Nepal'...