Not a priority : K-P’s laws to protect women remain inadequate

This was stated by speakers at a dialogue with parliamentarians, organised by the Provincial Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), titled ‘Enactment of laws for the protection of women rights’ on Friday to mark International Women’s Day.

PCSW Chairperson Neelum Toru, K-P Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Deputy Speaker Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Social Welfare Meher Taj Roghani and MPAs from both the treasury and opposition benches, among others, were present on the occasion.

Highlighting the role of the commission towards women empowerment, Toru said they were making efforts with the help of other NGOs to ensure protection of women’s rights. “The commission is engaged in removing loopholes in laws related to women, overcoming gender discrimination at all levels, rights advocacy, monitoring violence against women and bringing up legislation at the provincial level,” she said. They are researching to create more awareness among rural and urban women regarding registration of nikkahs, she added.

Toru said they were also helping displaced women from conflict-hit areas, adding the fear of a fresh influx of refugees can have serious repercussions on the overall status of the displaced population, especially women and children.

“A women empowerment policy is being vetted and is in its final stages in the province,” she revealed. However, Toru lamented that K-P is far behind in enacting laws that holistically deal with challenges confronted by women of the conflict-hit region and hoped the government will speed up the legislation process.

“No women are heading public accounts committees of the provincial assembly, which ultimately leaves no space for women legislators to have a say in policy making,” she added.

Going through the pending legislative agenda for women, Aurat Foundation Program Officer Saima Munir said the Hindu and Muslim family laws need to be brought at par with modern times and suggested substantial amendments in the Women Protection Act by getting rid of vani, swara and forced marriages by declaring them a crime and bringing about stringent penalties in the shape of heavy fines.

Munir further said the government needs to come up with legislation declaring forced marriages decided by jirgas as illegal. She expressed displeasure over the lack of laws against sexual violence at the domestic level, adding home-based workers in K-P who have a substantial role in the economic uplift of the province have no laws for their protection and relief.

“Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan have passed domestic violence bills which provide relief to home-based workers to a great extent,” she said.

Munir further said the Islamabad Capital Territory has the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012, saying the same should be replicated across the country. Likewise, she said K-P lacks laws that penalise parents for refusing vaccination for their children.

Roghani, in her speech, highlighted efforts by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to protect women. This drew criticism from PTI’s coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami whose lawmaker Muhammad Ali said the special assistant should have mentioned all the government parties instead of just PTI.

She said people should follow Islamic teachings. “Females also need to bring a change in their mindset to better change their lives,” suggested Roghani.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2014.