Violence against women under the microscope

Key indicators discussed at seminar; K-P deputy speaker says statistics vital

PESHAWAR: The fourth in a series of national and provincial seminars was organised at a hotel on Wednesday by the National Commission on the Status of Women to share Pakistan-specific indicators on gender-based violence.

According to a press release, key stakeholders in the Countering Gender-Based Violence through Research, Data Strengthening and Standardisation project were present on the occasion. The initiative is supported by the Gender Equality Programme of the Aurat Foundation and funded by USAID.

Collecting data

Deputy Speaker Dr Mehar Taj Roghani was chief guest on the occasion.  Over 30 rights activists, academics, researchers, government officials from key provincial ministries, parliamentarians as well as legal and technical experts attended the event.



NCSW Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz congratulated Dr Roghani on her appointment as deputy speaker of the K-P Assembly and hoped she would prove a great support for women’s rights in the province. “We started working on the indicators over two years ago,” she said. “Through partnership between NCSW and the government, statistics emerged to launch the first-ever survey aimed at the well-being of women in Pakistan.”   Mumtaz said, “Many of these indicators would be used to collect data on violence against women. Our project has been approved by the Planning Commission and we hope to start work by January and get the first results in by the third quarter of 2016.”

Dr Roghani appreciated the efforts of the NCSW and the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women. “On the national and district level, a lot of work has been done by the commissions,” she said. “Without accurate statistics, you cannot make policy or take adequate measures.” She assured the delegates the government was looking into women’s issues with great interest and resolve.

PCSW Chairperson Neelam Toru also spoke to the participants and highlighted these indicators were much needed. She said it was necessary to extract accurate data for the flawless depiction of a situation and this would help develop effective policy in future.

She emphasised all partners and stakeholders needed to work together to create better policy and take stronger steps to address the issue of discrimination and violence against women.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2015.