The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on Monday welcomed the passage of two important women's rights bills including `Prevention of Anti-Women Practices Bill' and `Acid Control and Acid Crimes Prevention Bill', passed by the upper house of the Parliament.
NCSW termed this step as an another historical and unprecedented move by the present government, which shows the government's commitment towards women's empowerment and to promote gender equality in the country, said a statement issue by the Commission.
The women's commission has been consistently following up and lobbying with women legislators as well as male legislators with positive and progressive approach towards women's rights to table pending legislation regarding women. The Commission applauded both the houses of the Parliament and those individuals who took up the matter with utmost devotion and sincerity; for the milestone achieved.
There has been a continuous struggle by the women's movement for years to bring to the limelight the heinous crimes committed in the name of honour and other customary practice and were demanding and lobbying for such type of legislation. On this occasion, the Women's Commission salutes them for their efforts and congratulates all the supporters in the movement for human rights, social justice for achieving this important hallmark in the history. This will go a long way in ending customary practices against women in Pakistan, NCSW stated.
The Commission believes that introducing legislation to combat violence against women is as important as implementation of the law itself. To curtail and root out violence against women, the commission hoped that the government and all other stakeholders would bring in necessary mechanisms and resources to implement the law in true spirit. Only successful, smooth and timely implementation can make the law more effective and beneficial to the women victims of violence, the commission revealed.