Get up, stand up for your rights: Working women’s union inaugurated in K-P

Participants at ceremony encourage efforts from both sexes towards equality.

PESHAWAR: At the inauguration of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Working Women Union (K-PWWU) at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Social Welfare Dr Mehar Taj Roghani stressed on the need to form an implementing body to ensure that laws once enacted are implemented.

“The provincial assembly has enacted over 100 laws but until and unless an implementation body is formed, it won’t work.”

Working women

Roghani suggested the K-PWWU be called a federation which will provide a platform for women to raise their voice against discrimination. “Once a mother raises her voice for her rights, her daughters will learn and will follow in her footsteps.”

The government has issued notifications to every government office to form committees so harassment at the workplace is identified and dealt, said the adviser on social welfare. She, however, voiced concerns over the fact that the committees had not been notified as yet.

Earlier Khurshid Bano, the founder of K-PWWU said, “Women are always discriminated against and are never given their rights in almost every field in the country. This is what led to the formation of this union.”
Also at the press club, Chairperson for K-P Commission on Status of Women Neelum Toru said the commission’s mandate was to legislate, identify loopholes and raise their concerns over issues but not its implementation.

Toru said, “The policy devised ensured everyone’s rights, from parliamentarians to housewives. A law against domestic violence is being processed at the law department.” She also asked the provincial government to strive towards providing an environment for women in which they could travel to their workplaces without being bothered.

“It is difficult to raise a voice but we (women) need to for our rights and we should not expect someone else to make an effort for our cause,” said Toru.

PTI lawyers wing member Advocate Robina Bibi expected some positive reforms in the lives of women once local government polls are held. “Police reforms will also ensure women their rights,” added Robina Bibi.

“Until and unless a man’s mindset is changed, he will not ensure that his female colleagues are given the same respect that he gives to his mother, sister, wife and daughter,” stated PTI MPA Zareen Zia. “Not only ordinary women but even women members of parliament also face immense problems.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2015.