New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) The United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women Wednesday said it will work with the Karnataka government to help empower elected women representatives in local governments in the state.

"The Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department, Karnataka, and UN Women will now work together to empower elected women representatives in local governments in Karnataka," a statement said.

Signing the agreement, Amita Prasad, principal secretary of the department of Panchayati Raj said: "As a frontline state for decentralisation, Karnataka has devolved all 29 functions to the panchayats since 2001."

"It has also empowered women by interventions such as Haku Patra that mandate the recording of land rights in the name of women," she added.

Said Sushma Kapoor, regional programme director of UN Women: "With 33 percent reservation for women, more than a million women have come forward to become leaders in each round of election."

"We now need to have a supportive legal framework and lower the threat of violence against women in politics," she added.

The Panchayati Raj ministry and UN Women signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) last year to assist women leaders in gram sabhas and strengthen their capacity.