LB polls: Civil society asks ECP to issue gender disaggregated data

Voter turnout classified by gender will determine women’s participation in politics.

ISLAMABAD:

To add to the hype surrounding local bodies (LB) elections, non-government organization and human rights groups have urged the election commission to prepare and release gender disaggregated data. Addressed to the Prime Minister, Senate chairman and chief ministers, the letter demands categorized data to strengthen democratic culture.

Spearheaded and endorsed by over a dozen organisations, including the Women Parliamentary Caucus, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Aurat Foundation and Democracy Reporting Institute, the appeal calls for classification of voter turnout on gender basis in much the same vein as the Senate Special Committee on Election issues in 2012.

“Gender disaggregated data on voter turnout increases transparency of the electoral process and enhances trust in election results,” it states, adding that availability of data is helpful in determining whether women were able to fully exercise their right to franchise. It can also be crucial in assessing barriers to the effective political participation of women.

This requirement is in line with international treaty commitments, as detailed by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), of which Pakistan is also a signatory. Unfortunately, provincial laws and election rules do not comply with the standard set by ECP, lamented the letter; besides, there is no data on gender disaggregation of voter turnout during the upcoming local government elections.

The letter urges the government to ratify this issue with a simple amendment to local government laws, or even the local government (conduct of election) rules, which determine the polling forms.

It has been suggested that the forms could easily provide polling officials a slot to record the number of women who vote at each polling station, similar to the one used in general elections.

The letter also urges the federal and provincial governments that law and regulations should be introduced which necessitate the availability of data immediately after elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2013.