September 07, 2006	Thursday	Sha'aban 13, 1427

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NEW YORK, Sept 6: Saying that Pakistani government’s proposed amendments to the Hudood laws are grossly inadequate, the Human Right Watch observed on Wednesday “the Hudood ordinances are fundamentally flawed and must be repealed in their entirety”.

The watchdog group said: “The proposed amendments fall far short of the reform required to end legalized discrimination and deter violence against women.”

“Any relief provided to those charged under these unjust laws is welcome,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “But the proposed amendments don’t end the discrimination.”

“There is a lot of public support to repeal these unjust laws, in part thanks to the government’s efforts to raise awareness about this issue,” said Adams. “If President Gen Pervez Musharraf does not seize the moment to repeal these laws, he will be doing a tremendous disservice to the women of Pakistan and breaking another international commitment.”

The Human Rights Watch said that Pakistan should ensure that it complies with its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which calls on states to modify or abolish laws that discriminate against women.