New Delhi (PTI): A group of activists today said "mere token" representation of women in lawmaking bodies alone will not suffice in the emancipation of the fairer sex.

"Mere token representation of women in the lawmaking process will not serve the purpose of women empowerment and participatory democracy," said Prof Savitri Gunasekaran of the University of Colombo here.

The meeting was organised by the South Asia Partnership International (SAPI) and Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA).

"In India though a positive step has been taken in providing 33 per cent reservation at the grass root(Panchayati Raj) level, it is yet to materialise into representation at higher level (State assemblies and the Parliament)," said Martha Farrell of PRIA.

Highlighting the marginalisation of women in politics, the meeting ascribed the absence of affirmative actions such as reservation and quota, the capacity development of women politicians and the prevalence of violence against women as reasons for this.