May 28, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 27: Dowry is a deep rooted gender issue with social, economic and health consequences for the whole society but is treated as a menace for the bride’s family alone.

This was the view taken by the participants in a dialogue on ‘Dowry and dowry violence’ organised here on Tuesday by AGEHI (Advocates of Gender, Education and Health Information) Resource centre, the technical wing of SACHET (Society for the Advancement of Community, Health, Education and Training).

They noted that the issue rarely figured on the agenda of gender experts. Only recently the dead silence on the issue has been broken by the tabling of a ‘dowry and marriage gifts bill’ in the Senate.

Talking about the factors that ensue continuity of the social evil they said, dowry often was considered an incentive to lure a suitable match, a support mechanism to help the new couple so that they have a convenient start of practical life, an excuse for the denial of inheritance to women (about 90 per cent women were compensated with dowry and were not given their share from property), which was not permissible either by religion or the law.

Talking about the salient features of the Dowry and Marriage Gifts Bill 2008 they said, it had restricted dowry to Rs30,000 and the bridal gifts to Rs50,000.

According to the legislation a list of dowry and bridal gifts will also be attached to the Nikahnama (marriage certificate) at the time of marriage and divorce, the bride shall be entitled to the dowry or money equivalent to its value.

In case of non-implementation of the certificate, a woman would have the option to approach the family court and get it speedily implemented, the breach of the provisions of the Act has also been made to offence punishable.

The bill was prepared by Sachet, a non-government organisation, in 2003 and it took five years to reach to Senate, showing the lack of political will on the part of political leadership.

Legislation on dowry had been done twice in the past but could not be implemented as there was lack of political and civic will.

Implementing the bill was not possible without a ‘civic will’ for which stimulating public to think about the institution and practice of dowry and dowry violence was vital, they added.

They also urged media to play its role in curbing practice of dowry.

The focal persons included Dr Rakhshinda Parveen, of Agehi Resource Centre, Dr Faqir Husain, Secretary Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, Maliha Zia, coordinator Legislative Watch Programme, Aurat Foundation and Dr Khalid Masood, Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology.