Gender equality: More women in politics

Ex-judge says women still have a long way to go to get equal representation

Justice (retd)  Nasira Javed Iqbal on Friday urged  women to take part in politics more actively and also come forward to contest elections.

She said women had made enormous progress in the political arena, but they still have a long way to go before there is equal representation.

‘‘Towards these ends, we must provide training for women political candidates to help build their capacities, and offer voter and civic education and sensitisation campaigns on gender equality,’’ she added.



Nasira said: “We back gender equality advocates in calling on political parties, governments and others to do their part in empowering women.”

Other initiatives which should be taken is to encourage youngmen and women to engage in advocacy around making gender equality measures central to public policymaking. She highlighted women's equal participation in politics as their basic right.

They constitute nearly half of the total population of the country. Their contribution through their triple roles of productive, reproductive and community management is vital to the development of the economy and society.

Their active participation in the decision making, determining how resources are to be used and in setting national priorities will not only improve the lot of women, it will also deepen democracy and strengthen the process of development in the country, she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2018.