Election Commission issues ‘Gender and Inclusive Policy-2077 BS’

KATHMANDU: The Election Commission has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against all sorts of harassment and discrimination in the workplace during election management. Towards this, the constitutional body responsible to conduct and monitor elections has issued 'Gender and Inclusive Policy-2077 BS'. The Policy aims to contribute towards strengthening democracy by making all phases and procedures of elections gender-friendly and inclusive, according to  Commission's assistant speaker Kamal Bhattarai The Commission will be active in the protection, development, and empowerment of women of all castes, regions and communities to ensure opportunities and access for them to minimise gender-based violence during the election period. The voting for the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly election is scheduled for November 20 this year simultaneously. The policy was put in place to aid in achieving the political objectives of the State to strengthen federal democratic republic system by implementing the principle of proportional inclusiveness in the governance enshrined in the Constitution. Equal access to workplaces including election centres and stations will be ensured to women, senior citizens, Dalits, people with disabilities, sexual minorities, and other marginalised communities so that they could exercise their democratic rights. It is said that the Commission had been conducting activities such as voter education taking into account the sensitiveness of women, senior citizens, people with disabilities, sexual minorities, and other marginalised communities. While formulating voter education programmes, prior consultations were held with these targeted communities to introduce voter education as per their linguistic convenience and ease. The EC will adhere to gender equality and inclusiveness in the selection and mobilisation process of staff for election in all phases and processes of the election such as recruitment of staff, training, and selecting volunteers, and observers. If there were any complaints from staff and other stakeholders regarding gender-based discrimination, misconduct, harassment during the election, an arrangement has been made for them to lodge their complaints and get heard. By RSS READ ALSO:

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