PESHAWAR: Potohar Organisation for Development and Advocacy (PODA) organized a one-day Provincial Consultation Seminar on Rural Women’s Participation in Upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Challenges and Opportunities for them here on Monday.
The consultation seminar was organized at the KP Commission on Status of Women Peshawar office that was attended by 35 women from 17 districts of KP including Kurram, Hangu, Orakzai, Mohamad districts to share the opportunities and challenges for women’s political participation in upcoming local government elections in KP.
Dr Riffat Sardar, Chairperson KP Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) shared that the commission is working closely with the Gender Wing of the Election Commission to mobilise women to cast their vote in the Local Government Elections. She said, “I request every woman in the district to come out and cast their vote as it is a basic foundation of a democratic society”. Women candidates need active support from the women folk to strengthen their political rights in local government elections in KP.
She said KPCSW will play a proactive role in the coming elections to facilitate women voters, oversight arrangements by the ECP. Our women need to show more agency and courage to fight for their rights and space in political participation.
Naheeda Abbas, Director, Rural Women Leadership Alliance PODA, said that currently there is a huge gender disparity in voters’ lists and there are an estimated 12.7 million fewer women voters as compared to men voters. The constitution of Pakistan put no restrictions or any hurdles on women’s political participation, she added.
Amna Sardar, Ex-MPA KPK Assembly said that article 18 of the Constitution provides equal space to women in every lawful profession, while Article 25 lays down the principles of non-discrimination and affirmative action. Pakistan has also adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a commitment to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 5 of SDGs ensures gender equality and it targets 5.5 guarantees equal women political participation.
Hina Khan, Assistant Director, Gender Affairs District Election Commission KP said as the level of government closest to citizens, local authorities can play a vital role in addressing gender inequality and building the capacities of women by involving them in the local decision making, planning, and management. We also facilitate women candidates to file their nominations-related documentation. ECP is very concerned about women participation in vote casting in elections.
Khawaja Zahid, said, political parties should further adopt measures, including internal quotas, to ensure that women are proportionately represented in local offices and on electoral rolls.
At the consultation women performed a demonstration play to highlight the problems and challenges that women candidates and voters faced during the LGE2021. The play educated the participants to minimise the role of polling agents to cast their vote to their choice. Women were also taught how they can check their registered vote and location by sending a message on 8300 from their mobile phones.