Ticha Na Nakorn resigned from the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) out of despair after failing to convince the charter drafters to agree to gender quotas, she said Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, Ms Ticha confirmed speculation that she stepped down due to a disagreement over gender-disparities in politics and decision-making areas. She wanted political parties seeking to run in elections to have gender quotas, with women representing at least one-third of the party membership.
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"We say women give birth or control the purses. That's apparently for fun. When it comes to decision-making and public policy, women's voices are ignored. It shows that gender issues are still treated as nonsense.
"It's true that some women are smart and don't need support, but it is not easy for most women to enter [politics]," she said.
However, she insisted there was no conflict between her and the other CDC members, though she has her own opinions about the rights of women. She said it was better for her to leave the CDC and the NRC when she felt she could not bring about change.
"My resignation may not be important to others. But when it seems that I can't do what should be done to make change and create a new balance in society, I shouldn't carry on, otherwise I will lose my self-respect," she said.
Asked if the resignation would cost her a chance to push for women's rights, Ms Ticha said if the NRC and the CDC stick to their stances and will not rethink them, they would face a barrage of public criticism.
People must remind the CDC that the charter is not for 36 drafters, but for 60 million others, she said.
She said there were other problematic issues needing attention such as the appointed Senate, the outsider prime minister and the proposed national ethics assembly, which she warned could end up being a "cemetery" for retired government officials.
Also on Monday the NRC voted by secret ballot to select Bangkok Bank executive Kobsak Pootrakool as a CDC member under the NRC's quota. Mr Kobsak chairs the NRC panel on economic, monetary and fiscal affairs.
Several women's right groups led by Thanawadee Thajeen yesterday submitted a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, urging the government to help push for gender quotas and gender equality recognition in the new charter.