Fact Sheet: Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities

According to international law, all people are entitled to certain political rights, including a citizen’s right to influence and participate in the public affairs of his/her society. Political participation can take many forms, the most notable of which is the right to vote. However, participation also extends to the right to join a political party; the right to stand as a candidate in an election; the right to participate in a demonstration; and freedom of association and expression. The political rights of women, minorities and persons with disabilities are recognized in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and under the following international conventions and treaties to which Pakistan is a party:

• The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)(Signed in 2008 and ratified in 2010)
• The Convention on the Political Rights of Women (Signed and ratified in 1954)
• The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (Acceded to in 1996)
• The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Signed in 2008 and ratified in 2010)
• The International Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Signed in 2008 and ratified in 2011)