Gender inequality in political representation

1. Gender Inequality In
Political Representation
Group members: Sadiqa Rabiya & Aftab

2. Definition
• Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of
individuals wholly or partly due to their gender.
Examples : Lack of mobility, Professional obstacles, violence, custody
rights and access to education etc.

3. • In 21st century , the concept of gender inequality still exists in many
aspects of a society.
• Only 22.8 per cent of all national parliamentarians were women as of June
2016, a slow increase from 11.3 per cent in 1995.
• As of January 2017, 10 women are serving as Head of State and 9 are
serving as Head of Government.
• Rwanda had the highest number of women parliamentarians worldwide.
Women there have won 63.8 per cent of seats in the lower house.

4. Going back to where it started
• After the independence of Pakistan Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah tried to eliminate
socio-economic disparities against women in the country.
• Before 1947 there was a tendency for the Muslim women in Punjab to vote for the
Muslim League and women were organized into large-scale public demonstrations.
• Pakistani women were granted the suffrage in 1947 under the Pakistan (Creation of
Pakistan) Ordinance, and they were reaffirmed the right to vote in national elections
in 1956 under the interim Constitution.
• The democratic regime of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1970-1977) had liberal attitudes
towards women. All government services which had been denied to women earlier
were opened to them. About 10 % of the seats in the National Assembly and 5% in
the provincial assemblies were reserved for women, with no restriction on
contesting general seats as well.

5. • Gender equality was specifically guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan adopted
in 1973. The constitution says that “there shall be no discrimination on the basis of
sex alone.” Additionally, it affords the protection of marriage, family, the mother
and the child as well as encouraging “full participation of women in all spheres of
national life.”
During the regime of General Zia-ul-Haq (1977-1986);
• The establishment of the Women's Division in the Cabinet Secretariat.
• In 1981, General Zia-ul-Haq inducted 20 women as members in the Majlis-e-
Shoora.
• In 1985, the National Assembly elected through nonparty elections doubled
women's reserved quota (20 percent).
• However, He suspended all fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution of
1973 including the right to be free of discrimination on the basis of sex.

6. Pervez Musharraf's Regime (1999-2008);
• The Cabinet had approved reservation of 10% quota for women in
Central Superior Services. Before this, there was a 5% quota for women in all
Government departments.
• The number of women’s seats in the National Assembly were increased to an
impressive 60, and likewise in the provincial assemblies.
-The debate on women’s participation in politics in Pakistan has largely
remained confined to reserving seats for them.

7. • The debate on women’s participation in politics in Pakistan has largely remained
confined to reserving seats for them.
• The reserved seats have facilitated women’s participation in politics and encouraged
more women to contest on general seats but has also helped political patriarchs
increase their numerical strength in the houses.
• Equality of women in politics is not on any party’s agenda.
• The parliamentary status of women on reserved seats remains completely
dependent on their male colleagues even if they outperform the men on the floor
of the house.

8. • While we have a considerable number of women in parliament, womenfolk
can still be barred from getting registered as voters and from casting their
ballots.

9. Determinants of women's representation
in National Legislatures
• Political. (structure of electoral system, partisan composition of the
Legislature, women’s voting rights)
• Socioeconomic. (Education, Labour force activity, size and strength of
women’s movement, economic development)
• Cultural. (Liberal attitudes, individual level, media)

10. Why women in politics matter
• First, the more closely government represents the composition of society as
a whole, the more stable its policies are likely to be.
• Second, a mixed-gender cabinet or parliament should, all other things being
equal, tend to address more of the concerns that apply exclusively or
disproportionately to women.
• Women focus on different issues.
• Women have different styles of governing.

11. • There is established and growing evidence that women's leadership
in political decision-making processes improves them.
-Women demonstrate political leadership by working
across party lines through parliamentary women's caucuses.
-Increased participation rates for women will also
encourage other women to participate in public life.

12. Such like…
• Benazir Bhutto.
• Sherbano (Sherry) Rehman.
• Fahmida Mirza.
• Hina Rabbani Khar.
• Badam Zari.
• Gulana bibi.

13. Defining a Future Agenda
Political parties should:
• Political parties should play a strong role in mobilizing and facilitating
women voters, including support for CNIC registration. Special attention
should be given by political parties to do this in remote and vulnerable
communities, and also in FATA with reference to integration of FATA.
• Political parties’ own internal processes for promoting women as holders of
office and in leadership positions should be encouraged and monitored.

14. • Political parties should put more female candidates on mainstream tickets,
especially for “winnable” seats and not just on reserved seats.
• Political parties also need to promote broader inclusive practices for ethnic
and religious minorities in key party positions and in mainstream tickets.
• More capacity building of women candidates and party office bearers needs
to be done to give a stronger voice to women who work for the party and are
not necessarily connected with a political family. This will give more voice to
women’s issues.
• Political parties should also play a proactive role in engaging youth party
workers, including strengthening student councils/unions and promoting
constitutional education among the youth.

15. Government actors should:
• Ensure that political party laws and other election-related legislation do not
indirectly disadvantage women;
• Consider legislation requiring political parties to adopt democratic procedures for
their internal operations;
• Consider temporary special measures requiring political parties to include a
substantial proportion of women high on their candidate lists;
• Provide incentives for political parties to promote women candidates, including
resources, training and increased access to broadcast time. Providing increased
airtime for women in politics between elections could also advance women’s
participation by enabling voters to make informed assessments at election time of
the overall performance of political parties, including their support of women who
have been elected as representatives.

16. Civil society actors should:
• Identify women willing to run for office;
• Provide training and other types of support for women candidates;
• Lobby to ensure issues of special concern to women are addressed in party
platforms;
• Lobby for legislative changes to advance women’s empowerment;
• Develop cross-party networks of women;
• Develop and disseminate gender-sensitive messages for voter and civic education;
• Advocate improved media coverage of women’s issues and women candidates;
• Persuade international donors to support projects aimed at advancing women’s
political participation.

17. The media should:
• Provide gender-sensitive coverage of elections, avoiding negative stereotypes
and presenting positive images of women as leaders;
• Provide women candidates with at least as much airtime and print space as
that given to men;
• Focus attention on issues of special concern to women in news
programming;
• Undertake voter and civic education programes aimed specifically at women.
• Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), CSOs and media should engage
female influential, role models and celebrities to aspire women to vote, to
participate in electoral process as candidates, observers and as active citizens.

18. ALSO,
Electoral processes in FATA
• It was suggested that ECP, media outlets and NGOs should take extra
measures to carry out gender sensitive voters' education in FATA and reach
out to women to participate in electoral processes as candidates also.

19. • Vigorous efforts to maximize registration of women as voters prior to
General Election 2018.
• Measures to create conducive environment for women’s participation in
electoral processes.

20. Conclude it with..
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah, “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless
your women are side by side with you.”