20000309

CE announces formation of commission on women status

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday announced formation of a permanent commission on status of women to examine laws discriminatory to them and suggest policy guidelines to ensure their emancipation.

He was inaugurating a national convention of women organised by the Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education here on the occasion of the International Women's Day being observed throughout the world.

"We are committed to ensure equality and justice to all women of Pakistan," the chief executive said.

The commission, he said, would consider women's rights enshrined in the Constitution and would also suggest requisite measures to end discrimination to them in all the spheres of national life.

It would also take up violations of womens' rights with the concerned authorities, he told women representatives from across the country.

The commission would work out a "judicial mechanism" and prepare recommendations to be approved by the Federal Cabinet to ensure that no violation of womens' rights take place in future.

Minister for Women Development, Zubaida Jalal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdul Sattar, Minister for Labour and Manpower, Omar Asghar Khan and member of the National Security Council, Dr Attiya Inayatullah were also present on the occasion.

Musharraf said that the commission would accomplish its work after having a broad overview of the laws relating to women before the human rights convention scheduled in April next year.

It will give suggestions to end, "all forms of discrimination against women and to give them equal opportunities," in the field of education, health and social sector, he said.

Pakistan, he said, had already incorporated into its national planning, recommendations given by the Beijing Declaration on the rights of women.

He said the government would accord immediate priority to chalk out the short-term, medium-term and long-term planning for the development of women.

The chief executive assured the women that the government would take necessary steps to rectify the existing imbalance which places them at a disadvantageous position in the society.

He said there would be no gender-based discrimination and the government would take steps to give equal opportunities to women. The women, he said, had been denied equal opportunities and access to the material resources in the past. Hence, it was necessary to help them improve their conditions.

General Musharraf said that the government was committed to develop the skills of women both for their betterment and to exploit their talent for the progress of the country.

Women will be enabled to play an active role and a visible participation in the decision-making both at household's level and at the policy formulation level.

The presence of Zubaida Jalal and Dr Attiya Inayatullah in the government, he said, was indicative of its commitment to the emancipation of women. It was just the beginning, women would be given more participation in the decision-making process.

Pakistan, he said, was committed to the UN and other international conventions on protection of the rights of women.

He said Pakistan would need assistance from all the international agencies, organisations working for the welfare of women to give equal opportunities to women and work for their development in Pakistan.

General Musharraf announced Rs 5,000 each for the seven girls hailing from the various NGOs working in four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas, who on wednesday spoke on the potential, determination and the pivotal role women can play in the development of the country.

He also announced the same amount for the two girls child, present in the old assembly hall but could not air their views owing to time constraints. He also announced Rs. 0.2 million for the NGOs in which these girls were working.

Speaking on the occasion Zubaida Jalal has suggested to give amnesty to all women prisoners in jail for offence other than murder, decoity, terrorism and drug trafficking.

She proposed that separate jails for women and juvenile prisoners may be set up in each province.

The minister said police should not arrest or detain any woman or girl child without a warrant issued by the district magistrate, except in the case of cognizable offence of murder, dacoity, terrorism and drug trafficking.

While speaking on the issue of honour killing, she said it should be considered as outright murder and be treated as Qatl-e-Amm, adding that ordinance may be issued to ban un-Islamic practices relating to marriage among Muslims and to discourage child marriage.

The minister also called for initiating action for amendment, repeal of all laws discriminatory against women, adding that under trial cases against women may be finalised expeditiously.

Zubaida also suggested to reserve 33 percent recruitment vacancies in the public sector departments and corporations for women, in addition to enhancing access of women to micro-credit for their economic empowerment and putting them in the mainstream of our society.

The minister also pleaded for giving representation to women at the highest policy and execution levels. APP