Output-1: Women better able to participate safely in politics and in public spaces at federal, provincial and local levels in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab
Pakistan is ranked 55th out of 86 in the 2012 on Social Institutions and Gender Index. In Pakistan, there is no constitutional bar on the political participation of women as voters and as candidates. However, women’s representation in national legislature never moved beyond 3%. Gender equality in political arena is still a distant dream for a vast majority of women who are often not even allowed to cast their votes in certain parts of the country.
Violence against women is rampant in Pakistan, in rural and urban settings within all classes, castes and religious groups. According to an estimate, approximately 70 to 90 per cent of Pakistani women are subjected to domestic violence including honor killing, rape, spousal abuse including marital rape, acid attacks and stove burning by family members.
Women’s exclusion in the formal political processes is the result of interplay of multiple forces that are structural, institutional and functional in nature. It is apparent that a huge gap continues to exist between legislation and implementation and while the Constitution of Pakistan allows a number of rights to both men and women, it does not ensure that the implementation of such rights is enforced.
AAWAZ Theory of Change (TOC) envisage Output 1 to contributing towards more open, inclusive, and accountable democratic processes by fostering greater gender inclusion in politics and public spaces. Activities under Output 1 are designed to empower women to participate in public life, cultivate a safe environment for their participation through addressing issues of VAW and GBV and increase the number of women participating in policy agenda setting and decision making at the federal, provincial, and local levels in KP and Punjab.