 bill no  19 of  2017 the international treaties and agreements ( equal representation of women) bill, 2017 by dr thokchom meinya, mp a billto ensure equal participation of men and women in representing the government of india while entering into any international treaty, agreement, covenant, resolution or negotiation, including those relating to war or peace, in order to uphold the values of international human rights and convention to which india is a signatorybe it enacted by parliament in the sixty-eighthyear of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called international treaties and agreements (equal representation of women) act, 2017short title, extent and commencement(2) it extends to the whole of india, except the state of jammu and kashmirdefinitions2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires, "prescribed" means prescribed byrules made under this actconstitution of the authorities53 (1) the central government shall, within six months of the coming  into force ofthis act, by notification of the official gazette, appoint a commissioner of international negotiations and such number of deputy commissioners of international negotiations as may be necessary, in such manner, as may be prescribed(2) the commissioner of international negotiations shall be a person who is or hasbeen a judge of the high court to be appointed in consultation with the chief justice of india for a period of three years10(3) the deputy commissioners shall be appointed from amongst persons who arequalified to be appointed as judge of a high court after consultation with the chief justice of india for a period of three years(4) the central government shall, within six months of coming into force of this act,by notification in the official gazette, constitute a committee to be known as the international negotiations committee15(5) the chairperson of the international negotiations committee shall be a personwho is or has been a judge of the supreme court to be appointed in consultation with the chief justice of india for a period of three years20(6) the international negotiations committee shall consist of three members to beappointed by the central government, of whom one shall be a person who is or has been a judge of the high court to be appointed in consultation with the chief justice of india and the other two members shall be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge and experience of refugee issues and refugee law for a period of three years(7) the commissioner of international negotiations may assign such of his function,as may be necessary, to the deputy commissioners of international negotiations254 the commissioner of international negotiations, the deputy commissioners ofinternational negotiations and the international  negotiations committee shall be responsible for ensuring equal participation of men and women—ensuring gender parity in peace conversation(i) in every international conference, international association and otherinternational bodies, wherein they shall represent the government of india;(ii) in representing the government of india while entering into treaties andagreements with foreign countries and while implementing such treaties or agreements;30(iii) while representing the government of india in any negotiation, resolution orinternational conversation regarding war or peace; and(iv) in every peace talk at national level, wherein they shall represent thegovernment of indiapower to make rules5 (1) the central government may, by notification in the official gazette make rules forcarrying out the purposes of this act35 40(2) every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each house of parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both the houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule statement of objects and reasonsthe beijing platform action 1992 makes clear that the women, peace and security agenda is not simply about making war safe for women, as it is sometimes understood, but about preventing the outbreak of violent conflict and resolving it where it does occur it also stresses the importance of fostering a culture of peace among men and women, alluding to links between gender norms and militarizationthe security council adopted a resolution (s/res/1325) on women and peace and security on 31 october, 2000 the resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security resolution 1325 urges all actors to increase the participation of women in all united nations peace and security efforts it also calls on all parties to conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse, in situations of armed conflict the resolution provides a number of important operational mandates, with implications for member states and the entities of the united nations systemthere have been 17 peace talks in the country and only 2 women have participated so far currently there are none in these peace talks the main objective of this bill is to establish an appropriate legal framework to recognize the stake of women in conflict talks and to ensure that international negotiations including peace negotiations maintain gender-parityhence this billnew delhi;thokchom meinyanovember 18, 2016 financial memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for the appointment of a commissioner of international negotiations and such number of deputy commissioners of international negotiations as may be necessary it also provides for constitution of the international negotiations committee consisting of  three members the bill, therefore, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is estimated that a sum of rupees fifty crore will be involved as a recurring expenditure per annum from the consolidated fund of indiaa non-recurring expenditure to tune of rupees fifty crore is also likely to be involved memorandum regarding delegated legislationclause 5 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the bill as the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character———— a billto ensure equal participation of men and women in representing the government of india while entering into any international treaty, agreement, covenant, resolution or negotiation, including those relating to war or peace, in order to uphold the values of international human rights and convention to which india is a signatory————(dr thokchom meinya, mp)