NCSW to launch strategic plan this month

Chairperson says commission committed to representing women's voices

KARACHI:

The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), in collaboration with the European Union-funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan Project (HeP), plans to launch its strategic plan in October, announced NCSW Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar while speaking at a consultation with edia and civil society.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Bakhtiar stated that the commission is committed to representing the diverse voices of women across every district in Pakistan as the nation works towards realising gender equality in public and private spheres.

Bakhtiar said that women police stations were set up in Benazir Bhutto's tenure, but they are not still empowered to lodge an FIR. "Harassment committees are not being set up in organisations, including educational institutions," she pointed out.

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The NCAW chairperson said it was the responsibility of every organization, public and private, to display harassment laws to create awareness among the public.

"Fighting violence is still our agenda," Bakhtiar said. She said that women empowerment needed time. "This is not an easy task, but we want to deliver and highlight what is most important for women," she stressed.

Bakhtiar added that a commission would be formed in Gilgit-Baltistan as well. The NCSW chairperson continued that she was planning to contact the political leadership of Sindh. "We will also approach non-government organisations and everyone working for the rights of women," she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2021.