Jhapa, March 6 Lawmakers and women leaders from Jhapa pledged to unite and rise above their party boundaries for the election of competent female leaders in the upcoming civic poll if their mother parties failed to give them appropriate role in the election. Speakers at a function organised by Sambad Group in Birtamode, Jhapa,  today stressed the need to elect women representatives from the grassroot level for the establishment and implementation of women’s rights. “Female candidates should be elected in policy making positions to ensure women’s rights,” the speakers said. At the function, lawmaker and NC central member Sarita Prasai said the status of women’s rights had drastically improved in the country of late. She said unity among women leaders could defeat the patriarchal tendency prevalent in society. Also speaking at the programme, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic central member Usha Rajbanshi, Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal’s leader Sangita Rauniyar, Sadbhawana Party central member Draupadi Ganesh highlighted the need of unity among all genders to ensure women’s rights.