Islamabad : Chairperson NCSW Nilofar Bakhtiar holds a seminar with partner organisation Center of Pakistan and International Relations (COPAIR) demanding political participation for women in upcoming general elections as candidates and voters.
Participants of the program were Amna Munawwar Awan President COPAIR , Nabila Malick UN Women , Amna Sayid UNDP , Barira from Gender Unit Ministry of Planning and Special Initiative , Tanzeela Mazhar , Nayyer Ali , Sumaira Khan , Dr Rakshanda , Dr Usman , Dr Saad Ali, Sitara Aiyaz, Dr Zahid , Dr Shuja and all major political parties. Azma Bukhari from PML-N, Farzana Yaqub from PPP, Asiya Ishaq from MQM Pakistan, Shagufta Malik from ANP , Samiyia Raheel Qazi from JI and experts on gender studies from academia, civil society and media personels attended the consultation session.
Participants of the program shared their recommendations for rights of women mentioned in there manifestos and told the attendees that there parties have allocated seats for women for there participationon in general and reserved seats. They said women are facing severe issues in their political campaigns and also face security concerns. In order to achieve favorable response from their voters they shared there experience of going door to door for demanding votes for there parties. Recommendations of the seminar agreed unanimously by all participants and announced by Ms.Nilofar Bakhtiar Chairperson NCSW were as under
Political parties must prioritize women’s representation, the fight for a 5% quota is in progress, yet not achieved. We demand to integrate women into the general pool, not a separate category as reserved seats. It was demanded to ensure security for all female candidates contesting elections and media shall provide equal airtime to the female candidates equally, reporters shall be assigned for these constituencies. She said women drive policymaking in offices and play key role in designing of bills, we demand women shall have there representation in assemblies instead of working in secreteriats.
For the upcoming governments we are committed to make the child marriage bill as a law to be passed by national and provincial assemblies. It was demanded women shall keep an eye on parties manifesto for there rights and support them for there own rights. Cabinets without women, ministries without women’s voices are unacceptable.