Women leaders contribute to minimise gender gap

Islamabad : Speakers appreciated the increased number of women filing their nomination papers for the general elections 2024, as compared with the previous two general elections. They were speaking at an event organised by the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability – Free and Fair Election Network (TDEA-FAFEN) to showcase the efforts of women political workers and leaders to get their civil and political rights and demonstrate leadership skills through a four-year program, ‘WE’RE Leaders’ funded by Global Affairs Canada.

Starting in 2019, the four-year project was implemented in 20 districts of all four provincial capitals through 19 FAFEN member organizations. The project also worked with the rights-based commissions, the Election Commission of Pakistan, the National Database and Registration Authority, the media, and other government institutions.

Celebrating the successful closeout of the program, Luke Myers, the Counsellor (Development) and Head of Cooperation, at Global Affairs Canada said the gender gap on the electoral rolls has been minimized due to the collaboration between civil society and the institutions. However, he emphasized that the reality should not be overlooked as around 13,000 female voters will still be missing in each of the 266 National Assembly constituencies in the upcoming general elections. He said the project directly engaged with women at the grassroots level, addressed their issues and strengthened the institutions. However, he expressed satisfaction that despite several challenges, the project remained on track and achieved its targets.

Representing the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), Chairperson Mossarat Qadeem acknowledged the role of member organizations in addressing the issues of women workers. She said it was the consistent effort and perseverance of FAFEN members that the gender gap on the electoral rolls has been minimized. She said FAFEN worked with women workers, polling agents, and candidates and urged the political parties to revamp their internal structures by including women workers in their leadership tiers.

TDEA’s Chief Executive Officer Muddassir Rizvi expressed solidarity with the project’s outcome that women should be heard and recognized. He said it was the beginning of a journey. Real change would come when there is a change in the behaviours and attitudes of people. He said TDEA recently also worked with various media channels, associations, and managers in identifying the stereotypes of women in media. He vowed that TDEA will work with media in the next couple of years as well.

The Chairperson, the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Mossarat Qadeem, and the Chairperson, Sindh Human Rights Commission Iqbal Ahmed Detho also spoke. Earlier, Rashid Chaudhry, Team Lead, gave a detailed presentation on the project’s objectives, outcomes, achievements, pathways, and lessons learned.

TDEA implemented the Women’s Enjoyment of Rights, Empowerment, and Leadership (WE’RE Leaders) project, which aimed at increasing the political empowerment and enjoyment of rights by women, particularly young and marginalized women and those at risk, in Pakistan.

This project was part of the Women’s Political Participation in Pakistan program (WPP). l WE’RE Leaders made remarkable gains in promoting the political and electoral participation of women. The project bolstered the leadership capabilities of women, empowering them as political workers as well as leaders. Through strategic partnerships with local chapters of political parties, the project effectively engaged and trained political workers, polling agents, and candidates. Simultaneously, WE’RE Leaders successfully helped decrease the gender gap on the electoral rolls across the project districts. Furthermore, the initiative played a pivotal role in improving media coverage of women's issues and their progressive portrayal and strengthening the rights-based commissions to deliver on their mandates effectively.