Regional Dialogue on Effective Implementation of Pro Women and Women’s Access to Justice. “Mindset needs to be changed, laws need to be implemented.”
Civil society activists, lawmakers, lawyers and media persons demanded the government to implement laws related to women and their rights. The speakers believed that before implementation of laws, the mindset that creates hindrances need to be changed.
The first regional dialogue titled ‘Effective Implementation of Pro Women Laws and Women’s Access to Justice’ held at Mehran Hotel on Wednesday was attended by civil society activists, law makers, legal experts, journalists and others. The dialogue was organized by the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) in collaboration with Gender Equity Program (GEP).
“The ruling party in Sindh has not nominated a single woman as district chairman this time,” Naseer Memon, the CEO of the SPO said. He said that it was only Sindh in 2001 when two women were nominated as district chairmen while five women were nominated in 2005 local government. Mr. Memon said that not a single woman has secured highest position in the Supreme Court while a few women appointed judges in Sindh High Court. He pointed out that funds are allocated for different departments like Social Welfare Department and Women Welfare Department but resources are not released, he added.
Speaking on the occasion Justice (Rtd.) Majida Rizvi was of the view that laws passed by assemblies have supported victims. She urged the participants to work vigorously. “We have to change the mindset,” she stressed.
Sindh Assembly’s law maker, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi said that: “officials don’t like to be appointed in such departments where they can serve human beings directly.” She said that women development department is a big question. Women working in public institutions also need social protection, she urged. Rashdi pointed out that women police stations were established because victim women were not being provided justice from common police stations. “Society is in very pathetic condition. There is great need to sensitized police officials and judges,” Rashdi stressed. She further added that Darul Aman [shelter house] are not safe for women who get shelters there. There are around 200 laws which need rule of business.
Anis Haroon, convener of Women Action Forum, said that everyone knows what kinds of challenges women face in Pakistani society. “Sindh Assembly has passed several laws that protect women’s rights and it is all because of civil society that created pressure over government to table such laws”, she stated. She said that political will as well as well active administration can ensure good governance.
Mr. Mustafa Lakho, the advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, pointed out that the laws existed but, he urged, it is the sole responsibility of the government to implement them by letter and spirit. He said that mostly police officials avoid lodging FIRs of cases of women. “People live below the poverty line and also below the law of line.” Urging civil society activists and media, Mr Lakho said that majority of victim women are not fully aware of their rights and laws which they could protect them. Women don’t dare to go against male-dominated society, he added.
Imtiaz Faran, former president Karachi Press Club expressed his opinion that it shouldn’t be honour killing law but terror law. The role of women in decision making is very powerful. He informed that baby care centres are being established for working women in three major cities, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. He said that women journalists are least in number in Pakistan.
Ms Shazia Shaheen, project manager SPO, briefly elaborated overall objectives of the project. She informed the participants, how the project will strengthen its ties with legal community / lawyers of different districts across Pakistan. She said that almost 100 lawyers will be trained on the issue of pro-women laws.
Speaking on the ‘Gender Equity Program’ Ms Mahpara Shakeel Ghouri, director capacity building GEF, shared details of four core objectives of the program, including access to justice; combating gender based violence; empowerment at home, in the workplace and public domain; and capacity building of institutions that advocate gender equity. This project aims to amplify confidence among women of the country, she added, saying number of women has been found who know what kinds of issues they had faced and how they tackled them.
Uzma Noorani, managing trustee Panah shelter said, “First, women have to present their cases before police and we all are aware of police station culture.” In the social culture, she added, a victim woman couldn’t get justice easily. A victim woman should be provided justice with dignity and honour. Ms Noorani was of the view that women who need to get justice through judiciary have also to face financial issue to pursue cases. Institutions should be sensitized, she added, saying educated women are also being killed, it is not honour killing. It is murder. The word honour should be removed. Sindh Assembly has tabled different laws which need to be implemented immediately.
Speaking on the topic of ‘Role of Social Welfare Department for Women’, Riaz Fatima, deputy director of the department, said that her department has been providing assistance and advices to women in every taluka of Sindh province. She said that the situation of Darul Aman were in pathetic condition in past, but, she informed, their conditions are being improved. She said that her department was working with local organizations and always respect better suggestions. “Awareness among needs to be highlighted,” she suggested.
Mussarat Jabeen, the additional secretary of the Women Development Department, said that laws related to women rights will need time to be implemented as they are related to typical mindset. Speaking about the laws of harassment at workplace, she said that around 1,000 enquiries have been established at different institutions where almost 250 cases have been lodged since 2013. Ms Jabeen said that women complaint cells have also been established in different districts of Sindh province. She added, “Our officials register complaint at these cells. We help them [women] from counselling to legal aid.”
One-minute silence was also observed in respect of recent Quetta blast where over 70 persons were died on 8th August 2016.