US Consul General in Karachi William Martin met with female political leaders and parliamentarians at the Consulate General on Friday.
Among them were five female ministers of the Sindh cabinet.
Martin congratulated them on the recent passage of the legislation on women’s rights. The consul general lauded the group for their ability to work across party lines, saying, “The issue of women’s empowerment transcends politics. I commend that you are working together on this important issue.”
The female politicians and lawmakers briefed the consul general on the constraints that hold women back in Pakistan, as well as other issues they are addressing through legislation, including honour killings, acid attacks, and domestic violence.
Martin referred to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s “Women, Peace, and Security Initiative”, saying that women’s empowerment improves the society.
The discussion over tea was a continuation of a series of meetings the consulate has held in recent months to bring attention to the US government’s commitment to women’s rights across Sindh, the rest of the country and around the world. These meetings have included a conference marking “16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence;” and “Voices of Courage”, celebrating the book launch of Sehra Waheed’s Silent Submission, about her experience in an abusive marriage.
