GRAP aims at enhancing women participation in political process
Islamabad–Federal Minister for Women Development Sumaira Malik has said the main purpose of Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP) is to promote a process that leads towards equal man and women participation in politics and political institutions.
The programme stresses upon two key areas, information and active support by civil society organization on getting women to vote and amendment in People’s Representation Act 1976, she told APP here on Monday.
She said amendment in Election Commission Order 2002, adovcates active advice to political parties by the Election Commission for making an election null and void where women have been prevented from casting votes.
She informed that amendment in Election Commission Order 2002 for confication of votes and different colored ballet papers to indicate gender of voter, information to political parties and voters on confiscation of votes, counting of votes by gender.
Re-affirmation by Election Commission that their instructions on this matters are being complied with proportion of women enumerators among registration team and coordination with Non-Governmental Organization’s (NGOs) for promotion of women’s registration in their own names through advocacy and promotional campaigns, she added. She said the number of existing women’s polling stations has been doubled from 37,000 to 74,000 through the constitution and enhancement of reserved seats for women.
To a question Sumaira Malik said that quota for women in reserved seats for tribal areas (FATA) and federal capital territory while debate and consensus building for supporting women to contest election on general seats and introduction of two women in the Election Commission.
Source: The Frontier Post
Date:9/25/2007
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