KARACHI, Oct 9: Justice (r) Majida Rizvi, Chairperson of the National Commission on Status of Women, observing that discriminatory laws against women were a major cause of violence, has called for abolition of all such laws.

Inaugurating a three-day workshop on Different Dimensions of Gender, organized by the Working Women Support Centre, a project of the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA), here on Wednesday, she lauded efforts by the government to set up the permanent commission and added that the discriminatory laws were under review of the commission.

Justice Rizvi described Hudood Ordinance as a discriminatory instrument against women. She stressed the need for an enhanced women representation at all levels which, she said, would help upgrade their status in society.

She said women were also being discriminated upon in services sector and pointed out that the previous government had allocated five per cent job quota for women but when her commission conducted an inquiry covering all the four provinces, it transpired that women were not getting the quota.

She said that women’s promotions to higher grades or their placement in decision-making bodies were other issues of concern as most of the women employees reach retirement age before qualifying for a promotion or being deputed on policy-making bodies.

Justice Rizvi emphasized on the need to reform the Citizenship Act and cited article 25(2) of the Constitution against any discrimination on the basis of sex.

President of the LHRLA Zia Ahmed Awan, speaking on the occasion, observed that Hudood Ordinance was not only discriminatory against women but also stigmatize men and members of minorities. He stressed the need for developing a proper system of testimony. He observed that in most of cases, Hudood laws are invoked to level scores.—PPI