The framework of themes and outcomes defined in the global UNIFEM Strategic Plan 2008-2011, provides the overall direction that UNIFEM takes to support strategic action on gender equality. One of the three thematic goals is to “advance gender justice in democratic governance”.[1]

A range of international accords to which party Pakistan is a party have stressed that it is essential to increase the numbers of women in political representative office. This is for reasons of democratic justice, and also because of the imperative of generating gender-sensitive governance so that women’s needs and interests are better served by public service systems, justice systems, and public safety institutions. The salient international accords include the Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW, the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals

Regionally, the Sixth South Asia Regional Ministerial Conference, “Commemorating Beijing” held in Delhi in January 2008 has identified “the strengthening of women’s participation and leadership capacity in decision making at all levels” as a priority for the next two years.

The challenge of securing in Pakistan the democratic, developmental, and security goals articulated in these agreements about women’s political participation goes beyond improving the ratios between men and women in a specific election year. It is about a meaningful representation in public decision-making of the gender equality perspective, and developing capacities to identify and respond to gender-based inequalities. UNIFEM is committed to strengthen in Pakistan the technical capacity among women’s organizations that are necessary to establish themselves as political forces in the country and to promote the political participation of women as a democratizing agent.