After four years the office of Women Parliamentary Caucus has been established in Sindh Assembly with support of SPO, Trcoaire and Australian Government
The Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), a high-level parliamentary body formed on February 25, 2014 to enhance the role of women Members’ of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh for promoting social, economic and political empowerment of women of Sindh through legislation and oversight, got well equipped office to play its required legal role under the project “ Policy Advocacy and Research to Strengthen Implementation of Pro-Women Legislation and GBV Response Services in Sindh” implemented by SPO and supported by Trociare and the Australian Government.
Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) organized the inauguration ceremony of office establishment of WPC with the support of Women Parliamentary Caucus members on 9th November 2017, in Sindh Assembly by providing necessary office furniture and fixture like computers, multimedia, chairs, tables, internet devices, scanner, printer, ACs and other items proposed by the patron and convener of the WPC. Besides this, the SPO also deployed team of four research associates with the support of Subai Project to support members of the women parliamentary body in research, documentation and preparing resolutions.
The patron WPC Syeda Shehla Raza, Deputy Speaker Sindh warmly appreciated the needful support of the SPO in establishment of WPC office through government of Australia to serve its overall objectives for women empowerment of Sindh. The well-equipped WPC office will help to get together in one place with focused agenda and record the meeting minutes to follow for implementation. She shared
Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Syeda Shehla Raza welcomed the efforts of SPO under the project to establish the pro women structures for effective responses to the women empowerment issues in Sindh. The well composed and settled structures will help in minimizing the sufferings of the women in Sindh under pro women laws. During the ceremony shields were awarded to Women caucus office bearers in the recognition of their services to women political empowerment. She shared.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the senior parliamentarians of Sindh Assembly, Women Parliamentarians and Parliamentarians from benches of opposition. The ceremony unfolded the message to the world that for establishment of WPC office, the parliamentarians were thinking beyond the party lines and one cause of women empowerment was most important for them. Mr. Qaim Ali Shah Ex Chief Minister, Sindh was chief guest and welcomed SPO and government of Australia for support of the office of WPC to strengthen the struggle of women in politics. Besides it Mr. Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Minister Parliamentary Affairs,Dr. Sikandar Mandhro Minster Health, Syeda Shehla Raza, Deputy Speaker, Sindh Assembly, Mr. Nand Kumar, MPA, PML-F, Mr. Mukesh Chawla, MPA MQM, Ms. Saira Shahliani, Convener Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Ms. Rana Ansar, General Secretary, Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and Ms. Rana Ansar also actively participated in the event. A large number of the MPAs from MQM Pakistan, PML-Functional, PML-N, PTI and PPP also attended the event. Honourable Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Sindh Justice Majida Rizvi, Member of National Commission for Human Rights Ms. Anis Haroon, Chairperson Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) Ms. Nuzhat and members of Provincial Steering Forum (PSF) also participated in the event. During ceremony the MOU was signed and speeches for appreciation were made. The event was covered by the national media assigned for Sindh Assembly events.