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ECP decides to launch soon GMSIF, making ECP the first EMB in the region with such policy framework

ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (SABAH): Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to launch soon Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion

Framework (GMSIF), making ECP the first EMB in the region with such policy framework.

In this regard, ECP has successfully drafted Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Framework (GMSIF) which will be launched soon making ECP the first EMB in the region with a Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion policy framework, stated an ECP Booklet released here on Saturday.

In order to ensure that political parties comply with Section 206 of Elections Act 2017 and award a minimum 5% tickets to women on general seats during 2024 General Elections. ECP to ensure conducting on the spot spots checking of female polling stations to confirm conducive environment for female polling staff with basic facilities, such as provision of clean drinking water, well lit rooms and corridors, rest rooms and ramps at the polling stations

ECP has launched a nationwide Women NIC/Voter Registration Campaign in 2017 in 116 districts which is still being implemented across the country. The Campaign aimed to decrease the gender gap in the Electoral Rolls by increasing registration of women as voters. Resultantly, by December 2023, the gap was successfully decreased to 7.74% from 11.8%.

Most of the buildings of ECP are made accessible to Differently Abled Persons by providing ramps and other means of accessibility. ECP has established a dedicated gender desk with complaint numbers to address issues of discrimination, intimidation, undue influence and gender based violence and concerns of women, PWDs, Transgender and minorities. Provides separate polling stations or booths for women with adequate privacy measures such as kanat’s at the entrances of combined polling stations for separate entry/exit for male and female voters.

Gender and Disability Electoral Working Group (GDEWG) plans, discusses, analysis issues and challenges and recommends strategies to enhance electoral participation of women, transgender, PWDs and minorities. 

District Monitoring Officers and Monitoring Officers of ECP vigilantly monitor any gender based violence or discrimination and take immediate and appropriate actions as per the law ECP’s Special Measures to Enhance Women’s Political Participation and representation. ECP to conduct gender sensitive voter information campaigns regularly with grass roots communities through District Voter Education Committees (DVEC). Provincial Project Coordination Committees (PPC) and GDEWG Ensures outreach messages through different modes including print, electronic and social media for grassroots level communities with special focus on voter education material in Braille and 3D pictures for PWDs. Throughout the electoral cycle, youth engagement and voter awareness sessions and mock poll exercises are held in schools, colleges, universities, community centers, and religious places to encourage young people. Ensures that as far as possible, polling stations are set up on ground floors and made accessible through ramps, ensures special polling arrangements and preferencial voting facility (without standing in lines) for expecting mothers, PWDs, elderly people, and transgender.