Women's Protection Bill: civil society, opposition and scholars consulted: Salman

Senior Member of Chief Minister's Special Monitoring Unit on Law and Order Salman Sufi has said that adoption of Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Bill 2015 will help eliminate violence against women in the society.
"The Bill has been passed unanimously by the Punjab Assembly in order to balance the system that is unjustly manipulated in favour of the perpetrators of violence against women," he said
He said the bill was adopted after holding numerous meetings to thoroughly address and incorporate all reservations of members of the civil society, leaders of the opposition, Islamic scholars and members of the committee.
"This bill was presented on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab, who wanted to ensure that legislation shouldn't merely be rhetorical but should make a real difference in the lives of women victims," he said.
Sufi said that according to an impartial analysis, Pakistan was declared third most dangerous country in the world for women. He said although the conviction rate for such cases was still very low yet violence against women cases are increasing in Punjab.
"In Punjab, 6 women are murdered or attempted to murder, 8 raped, 11 battered and assaulted and 32 women are abducted on daily basis," he said adding that was why Punjab cabinet approved said bill in May 2015 and put before the Punjab Assembly in June 2015.
He said that provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah formed a committee consisting of himself and the ministers for: Population Welfare, Women Development, Social Welfare, Jamat-i-Islami's Dr Waseem Akhtar and female MPAs belonging to the PTI, PPP and PMLN. He said that more than nine months of meetings, eight amendments were made to the bill in view of reservations of the stake-holders.
"Only reservation of Jamaat's Dr Waseem Akhtar was the language used about forced entry of women protection officer into victims house to retrieve her from abuse, at his request the language was readjusted and an amendment was made. The whole committee then lent their support throughout for the approval of this historic bill," he said.
Salman Sufi said that with such strong implementation mechanisms in place, this bill had the power to transform Punjab completely and greatly help reduce the high rates of said crimes in the province and provide a level playing field for women. He said that the bill was aimed at providing justice and comprehensive protection from crimes including abetment of an offence; domestic abuse; emotional and psychological abuse; economic abuse; stalking; and cybercrime.
"This bill introduces for the first time an in-built implementation mechanism by establishment of Violence Against Women Centres (VAWCs) in all districts, court orders (residence, protection and monetary orders), introduction of GPS tracked electronic bracelets-anklets to enforce protection orders," he said adding that District Women Protection Committees were being formed with the power for forced entry into any place to rescue women victims.
He said that the Bill was not aimed at creating negative impact on marriages but to assist them by mediation and resolution of disputes given the Islamic view point. He said that District Women Protection Committees were formed especially to provide a comprehensive mediation platform which didn't exist earlier.
"This is not anti-men bill since the word man has never been used in this bill contrary to popular belief. The only word used is victim and aggressor which can be male or female. In clause 2, (n) the Act describes a "defendant" as a person against whom relief has been sought by the aggrieved person," he said.
Sufi said that the bill provided civil remedies to the aggrieved women that would run parallel to lethargic court proceedings, which may take up to decades to take action against their abusers.
"As per clause 8, the victim has a right either to stay in the house if she is forced to leave that or the defendant has to provide an alternative accommodation to the victim if she wants. Forcing a husband out is simply not true but a Woman Protection Officer shall only make the aggressor (male or female) leave the premises," he clarified.
He said victim could claim a protection order from anyone who is threatening her and or has committed violence against her or has threatened to do so ,which ordains the defendant to not communicate with the victim or stay a certain distance away from the victim through a GPS tracked bracelet-anklet, which has been in use by the international community since the 1980s as an effective deterrent against further crime.
"The person also has to surrender any firearms as well. This is a much needed mechanism to prevent violence rather than act after she has been killed or harmed. Victims can also seek monetary relief from the defendant to meet expenses occurred and losses suffered through monetary orders in this bill and the salary she earns cannot be taken from her forcefully." He said.
He said that she could claim medical expense/loss of earning due to violence committed against her and maintenance money for herself and her children. He said if the aggressor didn't pay, their pay shall be debited by the court and given to the victim. He said that provisions exist to punish acts of domestic violence and other such crimes in the Pakistan Penal Code, however the issue lies in the implementation of these sections and speedy relief to the victim.