Role and functions

The ANF will serve as the interface between the rights holders and duty bearers. It will develop a concrete evidence based advocacy campaign at the national level around national and international commitments on gender equality in decision-making and protection from violence in the private and in public space. The ANF will develop a comprehensive advocacy plan after strategic priority setting to boast women’s political participation and representation and ensure their safety and security in public life.

The ANF will work towards building a social consensus to remove discriminatory laws against women and identify the legal gap where new laws are needed. The ANF will work closely with legislators to motivate, mobilize them to take legal initiatives to fill the gap. The ANF will facilitate legislators by providing them authentic information, research based evidence and technical assistance to take up gender issues and to draft private members bills.  The group will also work closely with parliamentary women caucus and the relevant parliamentary standing committees to ensure that they play an effective oversight role to ensure that legal practices are not working against women and policies and laws are enforced. Law enforcement agencies (police and judiciary) must uphold women’s rights, dignity and strengthen their security.  The ANF will also work with political parties and election commission for political party and electoral reforms to ensure women’s improved participation and representation within party structures and in electoral processes.

To build and strengthen the collective political voice of women, the ANF will establish close linkages with women’s movement and the civil society organizations. It will provide capacity support to relevant government departments, political parties, election commission, police, judiciary/lawyers and the media to understand and promote issues of women’s participation and safety in the political and public space.

In a joint meeting on 7^th Oct, 2013, all partners (except SAP-PK) but including MO revised the role and functions of forum, defined selection criteria and also selected 25 different representatives, relevant institutions (NCSW, ECP, women caucus and two provincial forums) representatives will be reconfirmed.