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Equal opportunities for women demanded
APPISLAMABAD: Human right activists on Sunday sought equal opportunities for women to participate in the country’s political and public lives.
“The government should implement its commitments under the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which asks for putting in place effective national legislation, policies, implementing procedures and required financial and human resources”, said a statement issued in a rally held at National Press Club.
The rally was organized by Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Alliance in collaboration with Insani Hakook Itehad, Women Action Forum and Civil Society Network.
The statement said, “Authorities should reaffirm CEDAW and other relevant existing commitments, conventions and protocols on gender equality, women’s right and women’s empowerment.
“All states should ratify CEDAW withdraw reservation to the convention and ratify or accede to its Optional Protocol,” it added.
The statement said, “The centrality of gender equality, the empowerment of women and the human rights of women and girls in situations of conflict and natural disaster are addressed through a transformative and comprehensive approach to gender equality and gender based violence in humanitarian assistance and protection.
“All institutional mechanisms working for Gender Equality such as National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW) be given Consultative status in policy-development, planning or law-making.
“Provincial Commissions on Status of Women (PCSWs) should be established urgently in Balochistan and Sindh and provincial Women Development Departments be given more power regards women issues in provinces.
“The provincial and federal governments should ensure the implementation of the notified Standardized Operational Procedure for the Darulamans and Crisis Centres and allocate them proper budget to improve their working.
“Provinces should take in consideration a drive to establish more shelters and centres in districts that have high prevalence of Violence Against Women but do not have support mechanisms.
“This includes measures to allocate and utilize funds properly and maintaining a monitoring and accountability mechanism for smooth functioning of the shelters so that they quality services are provided to all women that access these facilities.
“Gender crime cells should be re-established in police stations and jails. These gender crime cells should be equipped with properly trained staff on the issues of violence against women and the government take in consideration the review of the medico legal curricula for medico legal officers trainings and that proper forensic labs be set up to ensure timely safeguarding the evidence in cases of violence against women.
“The poor and landless rural women should be given one acre of land by the government and facilitated with organic agriculture for her family’s food needs.
“The government takes pro-active steps to ensure that adequate child maintenance and support is provided by fathers/guardians (in post divorce settlements).
“Special attention be given to legislation concerning the minorities which includes enactment of personal laws for Hindu and Sikh minority communities, amendments to Christian marriage and divorce laws.”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk