Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector has said that the government is making strenuous efforts to get much-awaited Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2009 passed through the Parliament with consensus of all political parties for ending brutalities against women in Pakistan.
Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali said this while talking exclusively to Business Recorder after a conference 'Breaking the Silence Against Women and Girls Through Effective Legislation' organised by the Ministry of Human Rights in collaboration with the UN Women here on Wednesday, "It is true that the approval of Domestic Violence Bill will ensure the protection and safety of a woman in her family.
The present government made efforts 2009 to get the bill passed from the National Assembly, but due to reservations on some of the clauses of the bill, the bill was not passed by Senate. But now we are hopeful that we would built consensus of all political parties on the bill of Domestic violence and then get it approved from the parliament".
Dr Nafisa Shah, MNA (PPP), Country Director UN Women, Alice H.Shackelford, Sitara Ayaz, KPK Minister for Social Welfare, Farzana Yaqub, Minister for Special Education AJK, Ghazala Gola, Minister for Social Welfare Balochistan were among the other participants of the event. While addressing to the conference, Begum Wazir Ali said that it was the fundamental right of a woman to live her life according to her will.
The issues faced by women in the today's system are based on patriarchal structure of society, social and economic factors such as lack of education, economic dependence on male relatives, no right to decision making in family, no right to own property and land, social and cultural norms prevalent in all spheres of life. "The present government has empowered women by making legislation like passage of Bills against Sexual Harassment and Acid Throwing", Begum Wazir Ali said.
She said that without the co-operation of civil society it was impossible to approve these bills from the male-dominated parliament. Dr Nafisa Shah said that in the male-dominated society of Pakistan, a woman has to be dependent on her husband, brother or her father to live her life. She has to face physical or mental torture at the hands of her guardian that may be her husband, brother or father.
"Even with just 22.7 percent representation of women in the Lower House, the question hour, that is one of the most prominent sessions of the National Assembly is mainly led by the women", Dr Nafisa said. She added that the empowered women must join hands with deprived segment to ensure them equal status and must recognise their duty for socio-economic and religio-political empowerment of women.
UN Women Country Director said that even after approval of bills on sexual harassment and acid throwing, the implementation of the legislation lacks behind. "Complete safety of women at work places, public places and even at home should be ensured by the government by implementing the legislation. The people in Pakistan are now raising voice that violence is still a threat to democracy", the Country Director said.
The other participants said that just 2 percent of the incidents related to violence on women are reported every year and the rest of 98 percent remain unreported. The participants said that the violence against women should be reduced to the minimum. The women cannot find justice as most are not provided the right to have a share in land-inheritance.