Violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights deeply rooted in gender inequality and gender-based discrimination. Violence not only has negative consequences for those who suffer it, but also their families, the community and society at large.
Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. It can be effectively addressed through prevention, protection and provision of services. In a bold and positive step, Sindh’s Provincial Assembly adopted a Resolution condemning violence against women and demanded the government to implement the law passed on the issue.
The Resolution was passed on 25 November 2016, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which kicked off 16 days of campaigning against gender-based violence.
In order to address the issue the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Women’s Development Department of Sindh organized a panel discussion on “Enhancing Legal Protection to End Violence Against Women in Sindh” as part of Sindh’s 16 Days of Activism to end gender-based violence.
“Today’s event is being organised as part of 16 Days of Activism campaigning to bring together various stakeholders from the government, private sector and development practitioners to share experiences and discuss strategies for strengthening implementation of laws. This conversation must continue with concrete actions to eliminate violence against women such as strong coordination amongst stakeholders for effective response, enhanced capacities of officials and public awareness, as well as addressing gaps in legal frameworks,” said Country Representative UN Women Pakistan Jamshed Kazi.
Sindh Women Development Department Secretary Mudassir Iqbal in his overview of legal initiatives being taken by the department to end violence against women highlighted enactment of the Sindh Domestic Violence Act (2013), Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act (2013), and implementation of the Protection Against Harassment Of Women At Work Place Act (2010) with 2,300 inquiry committees formed thus far in the province.
Other relevant and recent legislation includes the Sindh Abolition of Dowry Act (2016), and the Sindh Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act (2016). Institutional mechanisms being strengthened in the province included Sindh’s Provincial Commission on the Status of Women and Women Protection Centres.
Speaking on legislative opportunities and gaps of Pakistan’s Anti-Rape and Anti-Honor Killings Bills recently adopted by the National Assembly on 6 October 2016 were Sindh Human Rights Commision Chairperson Justice (R) Majida Rizvi and MNA Ali Rashid.
One possibility discussed was more strict punishments for honour killings, though this inevitably led to the conundrum of legally differentiating between usual killings and honour killings.
Mr Ali Rashid shared that as a next step, the National Assembly and lawmakers are looking to address and amend the evidence law section of these bills.
Speaking on the protection of women against sexual harassment from a private sector perspective, Zubina Sadick (Habib Bank limited), Safia Kaleem (Nestle Pakistan) and Zara Tareen (Actor/Photographer) shared their views, saying that zero tolerance for harassment of women, women-friendly environments, and awareness of the policy and Code of Conduct were key drivers to end harassment at the workplace.
Speaking on the challenges of implementing the Sexual Harassment Act were Maliha Hussain (Mehergarh) and Pir Ali Shah (Ombudsman, Prevention from Workplace Harassment). Maliha Hussain highlighted that both organisations and employees have been empowered to address the stigmatised issue that sexual harassment occurs within organisations. Adding to this, Pir Ali Shah spoke of how the Act was being implemented in Sindh with the establishment of inquiry committees and active reporting of cases in both the public and private sectors.
“Gender equality and women’s empowerment are critical to building resilient democratic societies. Violence against women is not only a Sindhi or Pakistani problem; it is a global one with an obligation on all of us to end. There is much to be done and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is committed to working with the Sindh Government and UN Women as there is no honour in such killings,” US Consul General Karachi Grace Shelton said.
