European Union

Women's representation at different strata of governance in Pakistan has been minimal. On the one hand there have been socio-cultural barriers specific to each of the provinces, on the other the reluctance of those in power to make meaningful affirmative action to encourage women and ensure their proactive participation in social transformation. For sustainable democracy, participation of women is essential as it not only reflects perspective of half of the population, but is also a question of fundamental human rights. SABAWON, through the proposed initiative, would work for creating awareness among women about their political rights (in rural NWFP and Punjab ) through working with local community groups, creation of an enabling environment and strengthening of mainstream women's movement for fundamental rights. Concerted efforts would be made to remove constraints to women's participation in the political process vis-à-vis mobilising and organising women at the grassroots, fostering synergies and linkages development and capacity building and research initiatives. The project would ultimately contribute towards strengthening of the grassroots democracy in Pakistan as envisaged under the Devolution Plan in way of creating social change and enhancing women's participation and representation in the local bodies governments and provincial/national assemblies.

Creating awareness about women's political rights in 90 villages of NWFP and Punjab through initiating a series of community dialogues, public campaigns and training initiatives with community-based groups;

Creating an enabling environment for accelerating women's participation in the electoral process by 10-15% increase in turn out in the target districts for the upcoming local bodies and general elections (2007); and

Fostering synergies and creating linkages for promoting women's political rights vis-à-vis enhanced access to information, advocacy and research initiatives and improving women's eligibility for the local bodies/provincial/national elections.