By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Minister for Women Development Ms Sherry Rehman said that the present government was strongly committed to rooting out all black laws and anti-women practices from the society.
Speaking as chief guest at a seminar on “Situation of Violence Against Women in Pakistan” organized by Aurat Foundation here at a local hotel, she said that women related issues are mainstream issues which swept under the carpet.
“We seek assistance from all stakeholders including the civil society and the media to help us bring reforms in the area of women development”, she added.
The Minister said that Aurat Foundation has always been in forefront in highlighting issues related to discrimination against women.
She said she had moved five bills on women related issues during the tenure of the past government, including a bill on prevention of violence against women, which has now been sent to the Ministry of Law.
The bill, she said would pass through democratic process of scrutiny at various levels. “When it would go to the concerned committees of the Parliament the suggestions from civil society would be incorporated in it”, she told the participants of the seminar.
The Minister lauded the role of both print and electronic media in highlighting gender discrimination issues even in far flung areas. She especially mentioned the incident of forced engagement of 15 girls in Kashmore to settle old family dispute.
Pointing to the absence of a comprehensive law against heinous practice of forced marriages, domestic violence, gender-based harassment at work place, the Minister said that the Women Development Ministry is working on legislation on these issues.
She said the Women Development Ministry has initiated a range of reforms to broaden the scope of women’s involvement in social development and give them their due leverage in domestic, public and professional activities.
Sherry Rehman said on the issue of forced marriages, a renowned Human Rights activist was preparing a draft bill.” It is a long procedure and takes from six months to an year to get a bill passed from the Parliament. But it is not an ordinance factory and we should get used to democratic process of law making”,said the Minister.
She said in most cases of domestic violence, mostly close relatives are the perpetrators.
“Your family everywhere in the world is your first line of defence and it is very difficult to raise voice against family members”, she said adding that such issues are reported even in developed countries.
She admitted that monitoring of domestic violence against women was not an easy job but added that it does not mean that we should not make a beginning in this regard. She held legislation done during Zia era responsible for increased violence against women in Pakistani society.
Sherry Rehman announced that the government has decided to increase women’s quota in public sector jobs from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. Similarly she said the PPP government like the past would prefer to appoint women judges who can play a key role in provision of justice to the female litigants.
To a suggestion from Aurat Foundation that women emancipation should be included in the constitutional package, she said that there were sufficient provisions in the constitution for ending discrimination against women.
While replying to questions from the participants of the seminar, she said that a task force is being formed in Women Development Ministry for provision of some legal protection to domestic labour force comprising women.
To another question, she said that a bill is being drafted to eliminate gender-based harassment at workplace.