The government is fully cognizant of the rights of women thus endeavoring to ensure congenial environment for them which is free from the violence in Pakistan. The Vision 2025 is considered to be foundation for change and transformation which aims at creating new opportunities for women to develop their full potential and share the benefits of economic growth, prosperity and social development.
In order to curb harmful customary practices and eliminate violence and discrimination against women, a number of laws have been passed in the last few years, including among others, The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Act 2011, the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, Punjab Violence against Women Act, 2016, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Enforcement of Women Ownership Act, 2012 and Elimination of Ghag Act, 2013, Sindh and Baluchistan's Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2013, The Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act 2014 and Punjab Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 2015, said a press release.
Ministry of Human Rights and its regional offices in all four provincial capitals, are working in close collaboration with key departments including the Law, Human Rights and Women Development Departments to improve the overall situation of women. Through its initiatives like National Action Plan on Human Rights which focuses on women rights, formulation of National Policy on Ending Violence against Women and Designing and execution of Men Engage Model Program to eliminate Gender Based Violence (GBV), Ministry is tirelessly working to address discriminatory attitudes, norms and stereotypes that prevent women's participation in all spheres of life including their contribution towards economy.
On one hand, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Crisis Center at Islamabad provides shelter, legal and medical aid and counseling facilities to women victims of abuse and violence and on the other hand, ministry facilitates working women through provision of hostel and day care facilities. Establishment of Human Rights Institute and Management Information System (HRMIS) will help in building the capacity of relevant Government Departments to address the issues of women in a befitting manner.
Moreover, training sessions and awareness campaigns are regular feature and International and National Women's Days are also used as forum to highlight the socio-economic, legal and political development in the field of women rights. As a result of reservation of 10 per cent quota for women in Civil Services, they have now been inducted in many male-dominated spheres including energy, public health engineering, fisheries as well as labour and manpower.
Women Police Centers, Women complaint Centers, Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Prime Minister's Youth Programme, Prime Minister's Youth Business Loan scheme as well as schemes launched through banking system are also contributing towards women development and empowerment.
Recently, to eradicate and eliminate the practice of honor killing, Parliament enacted the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Offences in the name or on pretext of Honour) Act, 2016. Under the new Law, if a woman is murdered in the name of honor by a close member of family they will be liable to strict punishment even if they are pardoned by another family member.
Similarly, another milestone achievement is the enactment of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2016. One of the most striking provisions added through the amendment is the inclusion of DNA testing as a form of evidence and the provision of free legal aid to a rape victim.-PR