Seminar on women's right to vote held

The Provincial Commission on the Status of Women, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa organised a consultation session on Elections 2013 with stakeholders from government and civil society to be abreast of the measures put in place by the Election Commission of Pakistan especially with regards to women's participation.
The objectives were to strategise collectively for monitoring of any violations that might take place in barring women to vote, and be informed of procedures for bringing the violations to the notice of concerned authorities. Special guests for the function were Ms Mossarat Qadeem, Caretaker Minister for SW&WED, Information, Culture and Sports, and Ms Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson NCSW.
Among the participants from government were representatives from the departments of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, Local Government, Elections and Rural Development Department. The Information Department, Regional Directorate of Human Rights, Representatives from civil society primarily from the FAFEN network and other close CSO were working partners with the Commission.
Ms Zubeida Khatoon, Chairperson of the PCSW welcomed the participants and highlighted the significance of the event for the Provincial Commission as the first election during its term, and consequently the responsibility it imposed on it to monitor the election process for any violations debarring women from voting. The Chairperson NCSW, Ms Mumtaz Khawar dwelt upon the role of NCSW and a MoU it has signed with FAFEN for monitoring purposes and the establishment of a complaint cell within NCSW for reporting of complaints. The complaints can either come directly to the NCSW or through PCSW who can pass them on to the PCSW. The complaint cell is accessible online as well.
The representative from ECP dwelt upon the measures of ECP for ensuring voting. He pledged to facilitate accreditation cards for the NCSW and PCSW observers in KP for monitoring purposes. During the discussion the Provincial Commission was requested to set up a committee to further detail out the roles at provincial level with special regards to monitor election based violence. Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) is engaging 44,000 monitors for the upcoming elections.
The Minister in her closing remarks highlighted that a letter has been circulated among Commissioners to interact with khateebs, elders and civil society activists to be alert to last minute developments at the local level which pertained to restricting women from voting. A communication strategy including a poster which will go down to all levels for awareness on the penalties involved in violation of the code of conduct as provided in the People's Political Representatives Act.