On the 8th of February 2024, Pakistan conducted its 12th General Elections, witnessing a substantial increase in candidate participation compared to the 2018 and 2013 elections. A record-breaking 18,000 individuals contested the 266 National Assembly seats and 590 Provincial Assemblies, spanning federal and four provincial constituencies. Acknowledging the efforts of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Gender and Social Inclusion Wing, the 2024 elections saw a noteworthy improvement in women’s political participation and voters nationwide. Of Pakistan’s 128 million population, 53.87% were male voters and 46.13% were female registered voters for General Elections 2024.1 The electoral gender gap, nearly 1 crore, showcased significant progress. However, an analysis of the voter- to-population ratio revealed provincial disparities. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 57% and 53% voters, respectively, surpassing half of their populations. In contrast, Islamabad and Sindh closely aligned with the 50% threshold, while Balochistan lagged at a mere 36%.2 The 2024 elections held particular significance, serving as a litmus test for Pakistan’s legislative, executive, and judicial efforts to foster inclusivity in the electoral, political, and democratic landscape. Aimed at empowering marginalized communities, including women in all diversity, individuals with disabilities, religious and ethnic minorities, and transgender persons, various sections of the Elections Act, 2017 were invoked as in the section 206 of the election laws that obliges political parties to allocate 5% of general seat tickets to women. However, various concerns from the civil society organizations (CSOs) as well as media outlets highlighted the non-compliance of 5% allocation of party tickets to women u/s 206. One of the reports issued by a CSO mentioned that only 4.64% representation was given to women across the country among the 6,037 total candidates nominated by 111 political parties for GE 2024.3 It came out as a challenge that neither political parties endorsed its compliance nor the ECP released statistics on the parties’ compliance rate if they have met this obligation. Undoubtedly, Sections 48, 203, 170, and 206 of the Elections Act, 2017 played crucial roles in this endeavor but revealed gaps in implementation, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and improvement in electoral processes. fdi as a rights-based organization, expresses deep concern regarding the strong expression of doubt on the election rigging, delays in elections result announcements, various political parties expressing their reservations on the accuracy of the counting especially in relation to form 45 and form 47. The voters, all political parties, civil society, and the media are actively raising apprehensions about the potential impact of these rigging claims on the integrity of the electoral, political, and democratic processes in Pakistan. fdi urgently calls upon the Election Commission to establish a dedicated committee or board to promptly investigate the allegations of election rigging read more…

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the largest demographic groups of Pakistan – young people – appears to be absent from the focus of most policies and measures around continuation of essential services. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and self-risk assessment of Pakistani youth, including young SGM groups, with regards to COVID-19; and to identify the effects of the pandemic on their psycho-social and economic vulnerabilities, and access to SRH services. A three-part rapid assessment was carried out consisting of a desk research, youth interviews, and interviews with key SRHR or health delivery officials. The desk research evaluated Pakistan’s response to coronavirus pandemic in reference to the international standards for SRHR of young people in general and SGM in particular. Our research showed a somewhat encouraging picture as the GoP has established specific guidelines for continuation of SRH service delivery as well as for continuation of HIV and AIDS and STI screenings and treatments. On the other hand, we found no reference to SRH services for youth or SGM in any of the published guidelines. Analysis of youth interviews revealed a high level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 and its preventive measures yet a relatively lower self-assessment of risk among young people. Most young people considered their social relationships and mental health being most adversely affected by the pandemic, and almost a third of respondents shared negative impacts of COVID-19 on their economic condition or income generation. The results also showed a very low utilization of any health services, including SRH services, by the young respondents during the pandemic. Findings suggest reduced need, fear of stigma or discrimination, or simply lack of knowledge about the services as major reasons for low utilization. The gap in addressing unique needs of young people, including SGM, in devising responses to a health emergency like COVID-19 pandemic was further reiterated through the analysis of interview records of key public stakeholders. The study calls for putting in place more specific measures to ensure access and availability of SRH and Rights to young people in Pakistan. This could be best achieved by acknowledgement of youth as a unique group with its own needs and challenges; ensuring youth and SGM representation in policy making, outreach and service delivery; and last, but not the least, by commissioning research and record keeping on youth needs and challenges.  read more…

Sexual and reproductive health and rights is not making any headlines but the reality is that the crisis will have a truly devasting impact on the futures of millions of girls and young women. Girls and young women faced significant barriers in accessing essential sexual and reproductive health information and services there is a real risk that these rights will move even further from reach. Gender equality is a central component to development yet Pakistan currently ranks the second lowest country in the world for gender equality, according to the Global Gender Gap Index. As the sixth most populated country in the world and with a very high fertility rate of 3.8 children per woman. The right to decide children’s number, spacing and timing has a valuable influence on a woman’s life. Yet, in Pakistan one in five married women who want to avoid pregnancy are unable to access effective methods to do so. The unmet need of the family planning raises the number of abortions, premature pregnancies and maternal mortality because most of them don’t have safe access and facilities to health care services are far to reach. The strong need to address the unmet need for family planning by developing access to contraceptive care ,promoting comprehensive sexuality education in schools, working toward gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, ensuring a access to contraceptives and advocating for policies that better support family planning. Moreover, A study by the United Nations found that 50% of married Pakistani women have experienced sexual harassment and 90% have been psychologically abused. Many are striving for peace regarding gender-based violence, Marital rape Well, In our culture we neglect capacity building. Our body is our right and Consent is important. NO consent means that women experience their bodies getting groped, abused, harassed, or violated. Consent not only talks about reproductive rights but also range of women’s right issues, such as freedom to choose clothing, movement, love, sex and marriage. Women suffer from pervasive gender-based violence, from domestic abuse, honor killings, and sexual assault to institutional discrimination. This prohibit women from engaging meaningfully in educational and economic life outside of the household and from making informed choices about their sexual and reproductive lives. We are short of safe spaces. We don’t have safe spaces where we can freely talk and talk whatever we want to. Even forced and early marriages are violence. Internationally, underage marriage is deemed as a illegal offense as well as a human rights violation. In Pakistan 21% of girls are married before their 18th birthday. According to UNICEF, Pakistan has the sixth highest number of absolute child brides in the world. “Violence is psychological, systematic and economical!” read more…

We Are Not Children of a Lesser God

1.Health and Access to Care and Coverage for Transgender Individuals in Pakistan: A Call for Action

“Trans Inclusive Democratic Spaces” Charter of Demand Election 2018

We Learn Human Rights Education for Transgender Community

Role of Social Media For Inclusive Democratic Spaces Election 2018 in Pakistan

Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act 2018

Your Friendly Healthy Center Guidelines

Women in Peace Festival