Members of civil society organisation have hailed the extension of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on Status of Women (KPCSW) Act 2016 to Provincial Administered Tribal Areas (PATA). They demanded the enforcement of laws to ensure protection of women rights in the region.
Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Qamar Naseem, a programme co-ordinator of BlueVeins, women-right based organisation said that after delegation of power to KPSW by President of Pakistan and Governor KP, the concerned Act was extended to PATA and now the Social Welfare department is able to implement the law in the region in latter and spirit.
Qamar said that a resolution was also tabled by the provincial lawmakers in the provincial assembly, demanding of the KP government to extend pro-women laws to PATA so that women can benefit from the legislations of the country. He further said, the extension of KPSW Act to PATA was a land mark achievement, and after the extension, the KPCSW can now monitor the mechanism and institutional procedures for redress of violation of women's rights. Individual grievances and facilities for social care and undertake initiative better management and efficient provision of justice and social services through the concerned forums and authorities.
On behalf of the chairperson on KPCSW, Neelum Toru, Co-ordinator Abdul-Qadir said that it had now the powers to review all provincial laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of women and suggest repeal, amendments or new legislations essential to eliminate, safeguard and promote the interest of women and achieve gender equality in accordance with the Constitution and obligations under international Covenants commitments including PATA.