ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians, members of civil society and women’s rights activists all vehemently urged political parties to ensure effective implementation of 5 percent quota in awarding party tickets to women on general seats in the upcoming general election 2018, in accordance with Elections Act 2017. They were speaking at the publication launch of Making Gender Quota Meaningful, organised and published by Heinrich Boell Stiftung (HBS) on Wednesday. The authors Rukhshanda Naz and Hassan Nasir Mirbahar, detailed the historical context of gender quota as well as the legal framework for women’s political participation and highlighted potential issues and solutions. According to the report, while women’s representation in Pakistan’s federal parliament has significantly increased in the past two decades, due to lack of implementation of the quota, the its full potential is yet to be realised. Compared to only 1.8 percent of members in 1995, women accounted for an aggregate of 20.7 percent of the total membership of National Assembly and the Senate in 2015. Speaking on the occasion, HBS Country Director Jacqueline Wilk commented on the need for including diverse profiles and perspectives on the gender quota and that gender democracy is a core component of HBS. She further acknowledged that women’s increased representation in Parliament was a global issue, as even in Germany, only 34 percent is women representation. The European Union Mission for Election Observation & Monitoring was also presented at the launch and noted the importance of accountability for free and fair elections. Moderating the event, gender rights activist and academic Dr Farzana Bari acknowledged that lack of gender representation is not only a Pakistan-specific issue but a global one sharing that only 23 percent women are in the World Parliament. The event saw balanced representation from almost all parties such as Nargis Nasir and Nusrat Sehr Abbasi from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), Shazia Ahmed from the National Party (NP), Anisa Zeb from the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and Ismat Shahjahan from the Awami Workers Party (AWP). Shazia Ahmed representing NP spoke about the importance of utilising the gender quota effectively so in future elections, the country can move past just quotas and have organic equal political participation and representation. Ismat Shahjahan from AWP commented on the flawed nature of mainstream politics which the quota is impacted by as well. “While we are appreciative of the affirmative action quota, our party before the Elections Act 2017 had planned to give seats to youth and women. Our party believes in the feminist agenda,” she expounded. Nargis Nasir from PML-N, implored foundations and non-governmental organisations to invest in the training of female politicians and candidates so they can be quality leaders in their communities. She also criticised rampant nepotism that takes place with some prominent female candidates where their male relatives are the ultimate decision-makers. Anisa Zeb from QWP noted that her party focuses on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. She shared that she was a grassroots and middle class candidate who is optimistic to running on the quota as it has made her entry easier. Representing NP, Ahmed pointed out that Rs 30,000 is not possible for many individuals who wish to stand and that women campaigners often don’t have the same access to campaign funds and support as male counterparts or the same power in their area, so women are not able to run in their strongholds. She also noted that if class, religion and cultural representation is needed, then male leadership needs to accept not only women but individuals from all walks of life for greater inclusivity in government and society. National Commission on the Status of Women Chairwoman Khawar Mumtaz offered the closing remarks and stressed that women’s socio-economic progress in the country is intrinsically tied to their representation and clout in politics. “This quota is a minimum legal requirement. It took 10 years of sustained work for this quota to be established and was by and large, the result of women’s hard work. The previous government could not reach quorum without women candidates so every election has been a milestone in furthering women in politics,” Khawar Mumtaz. She also remarked that women have potential power as candidates and voters, but that women will not come out and vote in great volumes unless they believe voting will improve their lives. The chairwoman stressed that political culture needs to be changed within parties and women should not be token candidates but achieve a critical mass. Published in Daily Times, July 4th 2018.