To be inclusive is a core value of democratic governance, in terms of equal participation, equal treatment and equal rights before the law. This implies that all people – including the poor, women, ethnic and religious minorities, indigenous peoples and other disadvantaged groups – have the right to participate meaningfully in governance processes and influence decisions that affect them. It also means that governance institutions and policies are accessible, accountable and responsive to disadvantaged groups, protecting their interests and providing diverse populations with equal opportunities for public services such as justice, health and education.

Lack of inclusive governance is widening the divide between rich and poor across Asia and the Pacific. Barriers to governance structures inclusive of disadvantaged and marginalized groups are preventing access by tens of millions in the region – women, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, victims of natural disasters and others – to critical governance services, as well as preventing them from exercising their human rights and achieving higher levels of human development.   Political inclusion of such groups is essential to overcome the deeply embedded social inequities and economic inequalities prevalent in the region.

Although national circumstances differ, across the Asia-Pacific region governments face a common challenge: creating an enabling governance environment that is not only aware of, and responsive to, the needs and interests of the most disadvantaged and marginalized – but that also is willing and able to provide sound, effective remedies to these groups’ concerns.

This publication also examines the application of the principles of non-discrimination, participation, accountability and empowerment in governance arenas, and promotes the use of a human rights-based approach to programming on inclusive governance. Presenting lessons learnt in eight Asia-Pacific countries through ten case studies, a strong case is made for greater inclusion in governance as part of the agenda to deepen and consolidate democracy, ensure effective representation, and develop capacities to better respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.

Download Towards Inclusive Governance: Promoting the Participation of Disadvantaged Groups in Asia-Pacific

PDF format, 2.7MB, 184Pages. UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok.

Copyright © 2007 UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
Regional Centre in Bangkok
UN Service Building
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200 Thailand
http://regionalcentrebangkok.undp.or.th

Design and layout: Keen Media (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
ISBN: 978-974-06-2837-8

Contents:
Foreword iii
Acknowledgements v
Funding programmes vi
Introduction: Inclusive governance for human development 1
Clarence Dias and R. Sudarshan
Participation of the disabled population in elections in Afghanistan 14
Shabnam Mallick
Access to justice for indigenous peoples: a case study of Bangladesh 28
Raja Devasish Roy, Sara Hossain and Dr.Meghna Guhathakurta
Indigenous traditional legal systems and conflict resolution in Ratanakiri and
Mondulkiri Provinces, Cambodia 50
Maria Backstrom and Jeremy Ironside
An analysis of influencing family law: A case study of legislative advocacy and
campaigning in Fiji 66
Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team and Fiji Women’s Rights Movement
Adivasi rights in Jharkhand state, India 82
Amit Prakash
The interface between formal and informal systems of justice:
a study of Nari Adalats and caste Panchayats in Gujarat state, India 99
Sushma Iyengar
Access to justice: the case of women in Iran 114
Shahla Moazami
The irony of social legislation: reflections on formal and
informal justice interfaces and indigenous peoples in the Philippines 124
Prof.Marvic M.V.F. Leonen
Participation and representation of disadvantaged groups in
parliamentary processes in the Philippines 144
Ledivina V. Cariño
Promoting inclusive governance in tsunami recovery in Sri Lanka 160
Aparna Basnyat,Dilrukshi Fonseka and Radhika Hettiarachchi

Foreword:
This publication is the result of a collaborative effort among three regional programmes managed by the UNDP Regional Centres in Bangkok (RCB) and Colombo (RCC). The Centres are regional hubs for development knowledge and expertise, providing policy advisory, programming and capacity development services. Inclusive Governance represents a priority area of work for UNDP in this region, examining the extent to which governance institutions provide space to overcome the systematic exclusion of disadvantaged groups seeking to participate in decisions affecting them.

Lack of inclusive governance is widening the divide between rich and poor across Asia and the Pacific.Barriers to governance structures inclusive of disadvantaged and marginalized groups are preventing access by tens of millions in the region – women, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, victims of natural disasters and others – to critical governance services, as well as preventing them from exercising their human rights and achieving higher levels of human development. Political inclusion of such groups is essential to overcome the deeply embedded social inequities and economic inequalities prevalent in the region.

Although national circumstances differ across the Asia-Pacific region, governments face a common challenge: to create an enabling governance environment that is not only aware of, and responsive to, the needs and interests of the most disadvantaged and marginalized – but that also is willing and able to provide sound, effective remedies to these groups’ concerns.

This publication also examines the application of the principles of non-discrimination, participation, accountability and empowerment in governance arenas, and promotes the use of a human rights-based approach to programming on inclusive governance. Presenting lessons learnt in eight Asia-Pacific countries through ten case studies, a strong case is made for greater inclusion in governance as part of the agenda to deepen and consolidate democracy, ensure effective representation, and develop capacities to better respect, protect, and fulfil human rights.

We trust that this selection of case studies can contribute to a better understanding of issues of inclusion and exclusion experienced by disadvantaged groups in the region, and provide an insight into the strategies appropriate for participatory interaction between these groups and governance institutions.

Elizabeth Fong
Regional Manager
UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok

Introduction:
Inclusive governance for human development
Clarence Dias and R. Sudarshan

What is inclusive governance?
To be inclusive is a core value of democratic governance, in terms of equal participation, equal treatment and equal rights before the law. This implies that all people – including the poor, women, ethnic and religious minorities, indigenous peoples and other disadvantaged groups – have the right to participate meaningfully in governance processes and influence decisions that affect them. It also means that governance institutions and policies are accessible, accountable and responsive to disadvantaged groups, protecting their interests and providing diverse populations with equal opportunities for public services such as justice, health and education.

The Asia-Pacific region, with almost 60 percent of the world’s population and a wide range of socio-economic and political issues, presents a challenging context for the promotion of inclusive governance. While the region has made rapid economic progress, these gains have not been distributed equally or equitably, either between or within countries.Underlying structures of inequality remain deeply embedded in historical processes of discrimination and inequitable development. Indeed, many groups today still find themselves excluded – socially, politically and economically – and marginalized from national development and governance processes, with few opportunities for redress. This is especially so for indigenous peoples, who are an integral part of the culturally diverse mosaic of the Asia Pacific region.

Inclusive governance is critical to UNDP’s mission, which is to support countries to accelerate progress on human development, an integrative concept that aims at real improvements in people’s lives and in the choices and opportunities open to them. Central to the human development approach is the concept of human empowerment. This goes beyond economic development, in terms of income and gross domestic product, to encompass access to education and health care, freedom of expression, the rule of law, respect for diversity, protection from violence, and the preservation of the environment as essential dimensions of human development and well-being. ...

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