Criteria for chairperson: Political connections and agenda trump merit in selecting NCSW chief

Shortlisted candidates for the headless body not selected for their qualifications.

ISLAMABAD:

The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has been without a chairperson since March. There was some progress on the long-awaited nomination with the Ministry of Human Rights submitting short-listed names of candidates to the prime minister on September 18.

However according to members of women’s groups and civil society who have worked for the formation of NCSW for the past three decades, the shortlisted candidates do not meet the criteria set by the commission. They held consultative meetings in September and October to improve the criteria for the selection of a deserving candidate.

The participating organisations decided that it was imperative that the composition of NCSW should guarantee both independence and pluralism.

Former NCWS chairperson Anis Haroon told The Express Tribune that the candidates in the list submitted to the prime minister didn’t fulfill the criteria.

“It is imperative that the new chairperson be heavily involved in the women’s movement. The government would do well to consider civil society nominations,” she added.

Six qualifications were decided in meetings that took place through networks such as Insaani Haqooq Ittehad.

Nominees must have excellent credibility based on demonstrated commitment and courage in striving for women’s rights, particularly in adverse circumstances and the individual should be committed to democratic institutions and have a track record of resisting military regimes were among them.

According to Nighat Saeed Khan, a representative of ASR Resource Centre Lahore, the ability to fearlessly fight for women’s rights during dictatorship is imperative because the country has faced such crises repeatedly.

Khan pointed out the lack of transparency in the selection process; information about the nominees is only available through the grapevine.

“We had to strive for NCWS’s autonomy but judging from the selection process, this just seems to be another platform for lobbying and political agenda. Several of the candidates we have heard are on the list, are neither experienced nor are they non-partisan,” said Khan. She endorsed Khawar Mumtaz and Anis Haroon as being worthy of the position saying they have proved their mettle and legitimacy.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2012.