AF unveils charter of demands for women’s political participation

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced February 6, 2024, to be the date for the next general elections in Pakistan. Mainstream political parties have launched their election campaigns despite the political instability, continuing incidents of terrorism and prevailing economic crisis. WomenR17;s political participation has always been an uphill battle in Pakistan. General elections in 2018 witnessed an increased focus on womenR17;s political participation, with higher female voter turnout in much of the country. The Elections Act of 2017 mandated that returns from any constituency where womenR17;s turnout was less than or equal to 10 per cent be nullified. It also criminalized the practice of preventing a woman from voting in or contesting an election. Besides that, the Act required all political parties to list female candidates in at least five per cent of their non-reserved national and provincial assembly seats. The ECP promoted women-only polling stations with female staff to encourage voter turnout in more conservative parts of the country. Despite an overall decrease in voter turnout, female voter turnout in 2018 is estimated at 23.26 million, an increase compared to 22.9 million in the 2013 general elections. Despite all these positive developments, womenR17;s participation in the electoral process continues to face a significant gender gap. Of the country’s nearly 106 million registered voters, 59.2 million are male, and 46.7 million are female. According to survey data, Pakistan ranks last in the world for female turnout in elections, with almost 20 per cent fewer women than men voting in the previous national election. The ECP’s efforts to encourage women in politics have only partially succeeded. After the ECP ruled that five per cent of each party’s candidates for general (non-reserved) seats should be women, several parties reportedly placed female candidates in “weak” seats they were bound to lose. The upcoming general elections in Pakistan are crucial for enhancing womenR17;s political participation. WomenR17;s political participation has always been a focus area for the Aurat Foundation. Building on its past efforts to strengthen womenR17;s political participation, the Aurat Foundation, with the support of the Women Learning Partnership, organized a three-day National Training of Trainers for 2023 titled “Beyond the Ballots: Enhancing WomenR17;s Political Participation to Strengthen Democratic Culture.” Women political activists from different political parties participated in the NToT, where they were trained around leadership, womenR17;s political participation, mapping of political situations, communicating as a leader, networking, alliance-building and a culture of democracy. At the end of this training, female political activists presented their Charter of Demand for substantial womenR17;s representation in the political process leading to Elections 2024. Charter of Demands 1. Ensure that womenR17;s rights are a priority area for manifestoes of all political parties. 2. Ensure the effective Implementation of womenR17;s quotas in political party structures, including decision-making bodies and candidate nominations. 3. Political parties shall mandate comprehensive training programs for women within political parties, covering leadership skills, political strategies, and issue-based advocacy. 4. Political parties and the election commission shall ensure strict anti-harassment policies within political parties and in digital spaces to create a safe and inclusive environment for women to actively participate in the political process. 5. Launch public awareness campaigns to promote the importance of womenR17;s political participation and challenge stereotypes, fostering a supportive public opinion. 6. Allocate sufficient funds to support women candidates during election campaigns, addressing financial barriers that hinder their active involvement. 7. Ensure transparent, merit-based selection criteria and process for nomination of women on reserved seats. 8. Government shall ensure 33% representation of women in local government. 9. The Election Commission of Pakistan shall ensure the Implementation of measures to enhance the accessibility of polling stations, considering the unique needs and challenges women face, including those in rural and remote areas. 10. Both political Parties and ECP shall ensure the development and dissemination of gender-sensitive voter education programs to inform women about their rights, the importance of voting, and the electoral process. 11. The government shall ensure and implement enhanced security measures around polling stations to ensure the safety of women voters and candidates, especially in areas prone to political violence or where women are barred from voting. 12. The Election Commission shall ensure transparent reporting and publication of gender-disaggregated data related to electoral processes, providing insights into womenR17;s participation at every stage.