Ezabir Ali*
As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its first assembly elections in over a decade, there’s a clear focus on the usual themes of development, stability, and governance.
Yet, amid the political rallying cries, women are one critical constituency that remains underrepresented and often ignored.
Despite making up nearly half of the electorate, the concerns of women in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in rural areas, continue to be sidelined in political discourse and policy making.
Political parties are eager to attract female voters, offering gestures like free local travel for women and ration-related benefits. However, these promises often appear superficial and disconnected from the deeper, more urgent challenges that women face in the region.
For women in both urban and rural areas, the daily realities of conflict-related trauma, economic instability, limited healthcare, and restricted access to education are far more pressing.
Women in Jammu and Kashmir are dealing with systemic issues that token gestures cannot solve. They are not just passive recipients of welfare benefits, they are key stakeholders in the region’s future. Yet, their voices remain largely absent from the decision-making process.
In the lead-up to the elections, women are often mobilized as crowd-pullers for political rallies, waving flags, dancing, and shouting slogans. But, once the speeches end, they are left without a meaningful role in shaping the policies that affect their lives.
The promises made by political leaders, whether for better rations or free transport, are symbolic at best.
Will these address the structural barriers that continue to limit women’s full participation in public life? Where are the policies that address women’s safety, access to quality healthcare, economic empowerment, and political participation?
What women in Jammu and Kashmir need are comprehensive policies that recognize their role as economic contributors, caregivers, and peacemakers.
Instead of being treated as a monolithic voting bloc, women should be seen as diverse individuals with a wide range of needs and aspirations that deserve attention.
They need policies that address gender-based violence, access to education, and promotion of their leadership in local governance.
Globally, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325, underscores the importance of women’s participation in peacebuilding and conflict resolution but, in Jammu and Kashmir, where women have borne the brunt of decades of conflict and despite their lived experiences, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions and decision-making roles.
As a Mediator and a Commonwealth professional, I have witnessed the transformative power of women’s participation in peace processes and governance across the globe.
In conflict-affected areas like Jammu and Kashmir, women have often played the role of peacemakers, holding their families and communities together during periods of violence and upheaval. They have been the silent and resilient backbone of their societies, but their contributions have rarely been acknowledged in formal peace processes or governance structures.
The upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir offer an opportunity for political leaders to recognize and harness this potential. But this will require moving beyond symbolic gestures and superficial promises.
Political parties must commit to substantive engagement with women, ensuring their voices are heard, and their needs are addressed through meaningful policies.
This means prioritizing issues like economic empowerment, healthcare access, safety, and political representation for women at all levels of governance.
To gain the trust and support of women voters, political leaders must focus on creating a future where women can thrive as equal participants in society. This requires prioritizing economic empowerment by providing women with access to job opportunities, vocational training, and financial independence, while supporting women entrepreneurs and improving access to credit for women-led businesses.
Additionally, improving healthcare access is crucial, especially in rural Jammu and Kashmir, where women need better reproductive healthcare, mental health services, and trauma support, particularly for those affected by conflict.
Ensuring safety and security for women is also essential, requiring stronger law enforcement, women’s protection units, and legal reforms to address the daily safety concerns they face. Lastly, women must be empowered to take on leadership roles in governance, with reserved quotas in local and regional decision-making bodies ensuring their voices are heard where it matters most.
The women of Jammu and Kashmir are not just passive voters or bystanders in the political process; they are active contributors to their communities and potential leaders in peace and governance.
If political parties want to secure their votes, they must move beyond tokenism and address the real issues that affect women’s lives.
This election presents a critical opportunity for change. Political leaders must rise to the occasion and recognize that women are not just a number to be counted but a force to be reckoned with – they are the agents of peace, stability, and progress in Jammu and Kashmir’s future.
*Ezabir Ali is a Harvard Alumna, Commonwealth Professional, Women’s Rights Activist, and Member of Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth and can be reached at: ezabirali@gmail.com
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