PESHAWAR: The participants of a multi-party conference demanded of the provincial government to enact laws about child marriage and domestic violence to ensure provision of fundamental rights to women and children.

The conference titled “Challenges to engendered legislation in Pakistan” was organised jointly by Blue Veins, a women rights organisation, and Provincial Alliance to End Early, Child and Forced Marriage at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday.

Prominent among the speakers were Ghani Gul Mehsud of PPP, Shazia Tehmas of PPP, Shagufta Malik of ANP, Palwasha Abbas of ANP, Mukhtar Bacha of National Party, Haider Zaman of Awami Workers Party, Arbab Mir Afzal of PML-Q, Robina of PTI, representative of minorities Radesh Tony, Fata Commission of Human Rights chairman Zar Ali Khan and Qamar Naseem of Blue Veins.

Participants of MPC say policymakers should keep local realities in mind

The representatives of various civil society organisations, women right activists and lawyers attended the event. The participants of the conference said that government failed to ratify any law to protect the rights of women and children. The participants stressed the need for promulgation of rights-based laws to ensure equality and indiscrimination towards children, women and transgender community in the society.

They said that civil society organisations and legislators should develop advocacy strategies and hold dialogue with the parties having reservations over such laws to foster greater understanding on the need for change and ensure that draft legislation was in line with the best practice and international standards.

Qamar Naseem said that efforts made by civil society organisations, media and enlightened people in different groups enabled common people to raise voice against violence on women and children.

However, he stressed the need for joint efforts to overcome the growing incidents of domestic violence in the society. He said that women had same rights like men but government never took serious decision to ensure provision of their rights. Women were deprived of fundamental rights, he added.

Ghani Gul Mehsud said that there was need to create awareness among people. He claimed that PPP had always played its role to ensure provision of rights to women and children. He also stressed the need for proper legislation against domestic violence and underage marriage.

Shagufta Malik said that men and women must receive equal pay for equal work. “Genuine equality between the sexes can only be realised in the process of the socialist transformation of society as a whole,” she added.

Zar Ali Khan said that policymakers should take into account local realities while designing and implementing policies and programmes.

Radesh Tony said that women should not be treated as child producing machines but they should be given due rights to end injustices in the society. He said that it was needed to change behaviour and way of thinking for the purpose.

Shazia Tehmas urged political parties to join hands against violence on women and children to bring real change in the society.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2017