KARACHI: Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad gave his approval on Thursday to the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Act 2015, to be enforced immediately throughout the province.

The Act outlines the setting up of a provincial commission focusing on the status of women and the promotion of their social, economic, political and legal rights, as provided in the constitution.

These rights are in accordance with international declarations, conventions, treaties, covenants and agreements relating to women, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

This act will allow the government to constitute a commission called the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) which will consist of 21 members out of which one will be appointed chairperson. All members will be appointed within 90 days of the passage of this Act.

The chairperson must be a woman, not less than 45 years of age, with more than 15 years of experience working for women’s rights. She must be committed to the cause of women empowerment.

A member of the commission must not be less than 30 or 35 years of age, have 10 years or more experience of working on issues relating to women’s rights and be committed to the cause.

The headquarters of the commission will be set up in Karachi.

The Women Development Department (WDD) shall invite, through public notice applications and recommendations, applicants for membership of the commission as well as for the position of chairperson.

The WDD shall set up a special committee which shall include a minister who shall head the Committee, a convener and member of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) as well as chairperson, Sindh Human Rights Commission.

A parliamentary committee shall also be constituted by the speaker of the provincial assembly.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2015

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