News
Sunday, September 18, 2011
7th meeting of women speakers of parliament from Nov 15Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will organise the seventh annual meeting of women speakers of parliament from November 15 to 17 in Islamabad with the agenda of making the parliament gender-sensitive.
The women speakers of parliament of all national parliaments will be invited to this meeting and in the case of bicameral parliaments, women presiding officers of each chamber would be sent invitations to participate to in the meeting. The women speakers of the regional parliamentary assemblies that are associate members of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) would also be included in the list of invitees.
According to the agenda of the meeting, it would take up the issue of women’s participation in politics and the impediments and challenges they face in this field. Besides, ways to overcome cultural, social and traditional barriers, which come in the way of women in politics, would top the discussion.
The meeting would also discuss the structure of political parties, their role in facilitating women’s entry in parliament and changing political party structures to allow women’s equal participation.
The meeting would also discuss the progress and achievements of women parliamentarians and special emphasis would be laid on gender-sensitive legislation and policy in parliament.
It would also explore the ways to devise the strategies for gender mainstreaming in parliament and a gender-sensitive parliamentary structure and facility would also come under discussion.
It would also shed light on the role of women caucus and role of educational and research institutes in building the capacity of women by creating knowledge base for their participation in parliament.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk