The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been encouraged by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) to create a special strategy to assist women and girls with disabilities in voting during the upcoming nationwide elections, which are set for February 8.
The state-level organization was established by statute to combat discrimination against women in Pakistan. Its mission is to uphold Pakistan’s international obligations as well as the social, economic, political, and legal rights of women as stated in the constitution.
As a result of their disability, differently abled women are among the most vulnerable groups in our society and require special care and support. They also run the risk of being mistreated, ignored, or maltreated, according to NCSW secretary Khawaja Imran.
“The NCSW’s mandate includes ensuring their equal rights in addition to protecting them. The election commission’s excellent implementation of the Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Framework (GMSIF) and the subsequent reduction of the gender gap in the electoral rolls from 11.8% to 8.3% (May 2023) are much appreciated by this office, he continued.
Raza spoke in favor of his demands for the provision of suitable facilities, emphasizing that women with disabilities had the same rights to take part in the political process, which calls for preparations both before and on election day.
Experience from the past demonstrates that a large number of women with disabilities were denied the right to vote.
The NCSW encouraged the ECP to make the required measures, which should protect and safeguard the women and girls with disabilities from abuse and neglect in addition to facilitating their right to vote.
“More barriers will be removed by providing accommodations like makeshift ramps at polling places, special counters, pleasant and kind poll workers, and prioritizing voting for women with impairments, among other things. Additionally, it will be imperative that security and polling staffers receive gender-sensitive training.
Finally, it concluded by asking that the relevant police and civil authorities in all four provinces, including the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), be instructed to make the necessary preparations for the safety and security of women with disabilities on the day of voting as well as for their facilitation.
