Community for Common Good

Electoral processes are one of the most fundamental ways citizens take part in shaping the political landscape of a country. The participation and inclusion of women in this process is therefore essential. Pakistan will hold its general elections in July 2018. Unfortunately, Pakistan has seen a steady decline in the percentage of women registered to vote in the last three elections, and the Election Commission has called on support to encourage female voters to register. Five districts–Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Karachi (West), and Sialkot—have the highest gender gaps in voter registration. 

Community for Common Good was established in 2016 in Islamabad, Pakistan to address poverty and inequality. It has proposed a campaign to highlight how inadequate provisions are being made to ensure women exercise their human rights to vote in the electoral process. They hope to combat the poor electoral management of public bodies and challenge low budget allocations towards ensuring women’s votes are collected. The organisation will work with the election commission and the police to ensure complaint processes are strengthened during the election; that special provisions are made to create safe spaces for women to file complaints; and it will conduct a review of the challenges faced by women on voting day so that they can be addressed.