ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formed a working group to suggest ways and means to enhancing participation of women and disabled people in electoral processes.

The first-ever Gender and Disability Electoral Working Group (GDEWG) will make recommendations for amendments in existing laws and fresh legislation to encourage participation of women and people with disability in the electoral processes as voter, candidate, electoral administrator and observer.

An official of the ECP told Dawn that according to estimates women constitute around 51 per cent of the population but their proportion in the electoral rolls was alarmingly low. Registered voters include 43.74pc women as against 56.26pc males.

He said the working group will also suggest measures to encourage women’s enrolment as voters for their participation in the electoral process and decision-making.

Initially, the GDEWG will be a year-long initiative which would work as a platform for gender reforms in electoral processes in 2016, wherein the ECP will be working with the ministry of human rights, ministry of law & justice, Planning & Development Division, UNDP, IFES, DRI, Rozan, RSPN, Oxfam G.B. Insan Foundation, Action Aid, Care International and Aurat Foundation. This working group will also strive for increased participation of disabled people into the electoral process by registering them as voters and ensuring casting of votes.

Inaugurating the working group comprising representing civil society Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Muhammad Raza highlighted the importance of inclusion of marginalised segments of the society in electoral process and said that the ECP was committed to achieving the goal of gender equality in general elections of 2018 in line with the Constitution of Pakistan, international human rights standards and best practices reflected in various international conventions and treaties.

In this regard, he referred to the newly-established Gender Affairs Wing at the ECP secretariat and said that the ECP encourages women to join it as employees, both at the secretariat and in field offices and it was ensuring good working environment to its women employees.

Members, secretary and senior officers of the Election Commission were present on the occasion, besides women representatives of parliamentary political parties, civil society organisations and international community. They all appreciated the efforts of the ECP in launching the GDEWG and expressed hope that women and disabled people would be able to participate in the electoral process and the electioneering in the country will be more inclusive in the future.

They also supported the ECP by making a “pledge for parity” on this platform to work towards gender mainstreaming the electoral processes.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2016