ISLAMABAD: Human rights activists on Friday called on male lawmakers to actively support and enforce legislative recommendations made by their female colleagues to safeguard the rights of women and marginalized communities.

These observations were made at a film screening by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) followed by a panel discussion as part of its campaign for the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

According to HRCP, gender-based violence (GBV) continued to be pervasive in Pakistan, manifesting in various forms such as domestic violence, honour crimes, sexual assault, and forced marriages.

This activity aimed to highlight the impact of gender-based violence, and the way women of Pakistan were being dealt with these days.

The event provided a platform for meaningful conversations and the sharing of personal stories to inspire local activism.

Activists seek legislation to safeguard women rights

Speaking at the gathering, activists emphasised the importance of translating proposals from female parliamentarians into actionable laws to address longstanding issues of inequality and discrimination.

They stressed that collaborative efforts across gender lines in legislative bodies were crucial for creating an inclusive society.

While human rights activists praised female parliamentarians for their efforts to protect women and marginalized communities, they expressed concern over the resistance often encountered from male lawmakers.

The activists highlighted that many male parliamentarians tend to block or downplay proposals presented by their female counterparts, prioritising dominance over collaboration.

This, they argued, undermined efforts to address systemic issues of inequality and discrimination.

It was essential that the recommendations put forth by women in parliament are not only acknowledged but also transformed into a robust legal framework.

A 30 minutes documentary was also shown featuring the Zahir Jafar and Noor Mukadam case.

Concerns were raised that despite lapse of two to three years, justice had not been served despite a death sentence handed down to Zahir Jafar.

Speakers argued that despite being an open and shut case the convict Zahir Jafar, had an edge coming from an affluent family.

Demanding more facilities and measures for women to enable law enforcement to assist women, Tahir Khan, who is SP Islamabad Police, defended the police by saying that the police had done its job to the best of its abilities to ensure that the culprit got what he deserved in the Noor Mukadam case.

He lamented that there was only one police station for women where staff were insufficient and not up to international standards.

He also demanded more crisis centres in the federal capital to accommodate women who needed assistance, since the only crisis centre in Islamabad was packed to capacity.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2024