Parliamentary panel on rights: Fresh body proposed to replace panel on women status
Govt will table new legislation before parliament next month.
ISLAMABAD:
Next month the government will place fresh legislation before parliament that would replace the National Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance 2000 with the National Commission for Women.
The National Assembly’s standing committee on human rights approved on Friday the National Commission for Women Bill, 2011, and sent it to the law ministry to vet the proposed legislation so it could be presented before parliament next month.
The standing committee incorporated some amendments into the proposed draft of the law that was sent by a subcommittee on this issue.
According to the National Assembly secretariat, the committee decided to table the Bill in the next NA session scheduled for December 15.
The government wanted to present the bill during the session that ended on Friday but the opposition raised some objections saying it wanted some amendments made in the Bill. The speaker referred the matter to the committee for further deliberations.
The standing committee, headed by Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani, has now adopted it unanimously, an official handout said.
Under this bill, the government will set up an independent commission with an autonomous status with all financial and administrative powers.
Once this bill is adopted, the National Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance, 2000 will be deemed repealed.
The proposed commission, with its headquarters in Islamabad, will consist of at least 15 and a maximum of 21 members, and will be headed by a chairperson who will be appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister, for a period of three years.
These members will enjoy a status equivalent to that of a BS-21 officer of the federal government.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, when asked to elaborate on the difference between the new commission and the existing one, told The Express Tribune that under the new law, the commission would have autonomy on all administrative and financial matters and would have powers to record witness’ statements and send its recommendations to the magistrate for proceedings in case of a crime against women.
As per the draft law, the commission would examine the policy, programmes and other measures taken by the government for the development of women and gender equality, in order to assess the implementation and make suitable recommendations to the concerned authorities for necessary action.
It will be empowered to review all laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of women and suggest repealing, amending or passing a new legislation essential towards eliminating discrimination against women.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2011.
Next month the government will place fresh legislation before parliament that would replace the National Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance 2000 with the National Commission for Women.
The National Assembly’s standing committee on human rights approved on Friday the National Commission for Women Bill, 2011, and sent it to the law ministry to vet the proposed legislation so it could be presented before parliament next month.
The standing committee incorporated some amendments into the proposed draft of the law that was sent by a subcommittee on this issue.
According to the National Assembly secretariat, the committee decided to table the Bill in the next NA session scheduled for December 15.
The government wanted to present the bill during the session that ended on Friday but the opposition raised some objections saying it wanted some amendments made in the Bill. The speaker referred the matter to the committee for further deliberations.
The standing committee, headed by Syed Mumtaz Alam Gillani, has now adopted it unanimously, an official handout said.
Under this bill, the government will set up an independent commission with an autonomous status with all financial and administrative powers.
Once this bill is adopted, the National Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance, 2000 will be deemed repealed.
The proposed commission, with its headquarters in Islamabad, will consist of at least 15 and a maximum of 21 members, and will be headed by a chairperson who will be appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister, for a period of three years.
These members will enjoy a status equivalent to that of a BS-21 officer of the federal government.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, when asked to elaborate on the difference between the new commission and the existing one, told The Express Tribune that under the new law, the commission would have autonomy on all administrative and financial matters and would have powers to record witness’ statements and send its recommendations to the magistrate for proceedings in case of a crime against women.
As per the draft law, the commission would examine the policy, programmes and other measures taken by the government for the development of women and gender equality, in order to assess the implementation and make suitable recommendations to the concerned authorities for necessary action.
It will be empowered to review all laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of women and suggest repealing, amending or passing a new legislation essential towards eliminating discrimination against women.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2011.