Speakers for women’s participation in democratic process in upcoming elections

Islamabad

Speakers demanded special parliamentary committee to ensure implementation of legislation on domestic violence and sexual harassment.

The demand was made in a national conference on Thursday where stakeholders resolved to ensure women’s meaningful participation in the democratic process as both voters and candidates in the upcoming 2018 elections.

The national conference on ‘Women’s Political Emancipation: The Future of Pakistan’ was organised by Aurat foundation and Oxfam with support from the Australian Government.

Participants include; senior policy makers, parliamentarians, judiciary, and provincial ministers and grassroots level women leaders from across Pakistan. Participants deliberated over ways to improve women’s participation as candidates and voters in the 2018 elections and put forth a set of action-oriented recommendations.

The conference is part of LISTEN, a 4 year project which was implemented between 2013 and 2017, aimed at ensuring women’s political empowerment and their inclusion in policy and decision making processes.

Women parliamentarians from PML-N, PPP, PTI and JUI discussed electoral reforms.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party MPA Syeda Shehla Raza narrated her struggles as a student activist and said that women face sexism at the highest level as politicians and activists. “But if we stand by the oaths we have taken, nothing can bring us down,” she said.

Women Parliamentary Caucus Secretary PML-N MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik called upon women parliamentarians to stand together for women’s collective interests. “There is a glass ceiling between women parliamentarians on reserved seats and those on general seats. We must hold hands and be role models” she said.

JUI(F) MNA Naeema Kishwar said legislation ensuring political parties give 5% general seat tickets to women will be passed after Ramazan. “In 2018 election results will be computed according to gender so we receive accurate data on women voters’ turnout,” she said.

PML-N MPA Raheela Khadim Hussain said it is not enough that women participate in the 2018 elections as voters but must be brought into mainstream politics as candidates on general seats. “Punjab has made gender mainstreaming a priority,” she said.

Country Director Mohammad Qazilbash said Oxfam believes in building women’s leadership and ensuring their meaningful political participation so they are able to influence decisions and policies that affect their lives.

Aurat Foundation executive director Naeem Ahmed Mirza called for federal legislation to ensure women also get tickets for winnable general seats. “This will ensure women’s meaningful participation in the electoral process” he said.

Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson noted that Australia’s development partnership with Pakistan was supporting women’s education and economic empowerment.

“Governments and civil society everywhere need to encourage and empower women to contribute to inclusive social and economic development, and to promote security and world peace,” Adamson said.