Consultation meetings were organized by Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) with the support of SPO, Trocaire, and Australian Aid on 7 and 28 May 2018 in Karachi. Under Chapter III, section 12 (b), the SCSW has the power to review all provincial legislation and rules pertaining to women’s rights and suggest amendments and recommendations. 36 (26 women, 10 men) including lawyers, women’s rights activists, media persons, members of the law committee of SCSW, government officials, and other members of SCSW participated in the meeting.
The review of two laws Sindh Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act 2016 and Sindh Registration of Dowry Act, 2017 was done by legal experts on 7th and 28th of May 2018 respectively. Ms. Nuzhat Shireen, Justice Majida Rizvi and Justice Shaiq Usmani, amongst others were part of the session. Shirkat Gah, Strengthening Participatory Organization, and others were also part of the consultative meeting. Mr Tahir Malik, ED of LRF and Dr. Rana the legal experts introduced the respective bills in a presentation and gave some background.
The recommendations from consultation were recorded to be reviewed by the law committee of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women and then send to judicial academy for necessary feedback before sending to the law and parliamentary committee government of Sindh. The efforts would lead the finalization of targeted pro women Bills into Acts and survivors of gender based violence (GBV) would be able to get justice in the presence of laws pertaining to acid throwing and dowry.
