Govt urged to ensure women’s access to justice

Participants say violence against women has not decreased despite several laws

FAISALABAD: The participants at of a dialogue said on Thursday even after pro-women legislations and enhanced access to justice in Punjab, violence against womenfolk does not seem decreasing.

The regional dialogue ‘Pro-Women Legislation: Socio-Cultural Impact and Access to Justice’ was held at the office of Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) under Gender Equality Programme with the support USAID. The programme was attended by more than 45 representatives of government departments, lawyers, journalists, intellectuals, writers and representatives of NGOs. The session was presided over by Member Punjab Assembly and Social Welfare Parliamentary Secretary Haji Muhammad Ilyas Ansari.

“Pro-women legislation is a remarkable step of the Punjab government to protect the rights of women.

Though there are some lacunas which were revealed after its implementation and the government is sincerely trying to remove those lacunas with the help of social activists and right groups,” he said.



Speaking on the occasion senior journalist Wajahat Masood said Pakistan’s history was witness to women’s struggle in all spheres of life which reveal the capability of women to perform proficiently even on odd circumstances.

“The constitution guarantees the fundamental rights and liberties which protect citizens’ rights through legislations,” he added.

“Though we have remarkable legislations for women but still there is discrimination on the basis of gender and sex.” He said it was imperative to create women-friendly environment in politics, society and economy.

“Justice system keeps the social equilibrium and the failure of this system gives birth to violence and discriminatory attitudes towards marginalised communities especially women and minorities,” Centre for Social Justice Executive Director Peter Jacob said while speaking on the occasion. “Pakistani Justice system has ignored the secondary stakeholders, resultantly; we are unable to get the required results of court verdicts.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2017.