The Express Tribune
Published Date: May 20, 2014
Gender-based violence: Need for pro-women laws stressed
Stressing the need for pro-women legislation,
parliamentarians said violence against women was endemic in the country.
They were speaking at the third meeting of the Women
Parliamentarians Council (WPC), a forum of the Sustainable Development Policy
Institute (SDPI).
Participants suggested making the national identity card
compulsory
for marriage and demanded that registration of divorce should also be made
compulsory.
Criticising the discriminatory treatment meted out to women
parliamentarians, they said that women’s political empowerment and their
meaningful inclusion in decision-making was fundamental for any constructive
and sustainable democratic change in Pakistan.
While highlighting the plight of women prisoners, they
suggested measures for economic rehabilitation to enable them to earn a living
once they complete their sentence.
Earlier, SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qayum Suleri said
that there was a dearth of research on various issues of national concern and
think tanks should rigorously provide
support to parliamentarians to help them draft legislation.
"The SDPI is not only committed to providing research support
to women parliamentarians but also planning to help them in drafting laws,"
said Dr Suleri.
Findings of a research study on state of policies and
legislations to curb violence against women (VAW) were also shared with the
participants.
SDPI Deputy Executive Director Dr Vaqar Ahmed said that in
the gender inequality index, Pakistan ranked 115 out of 140 countries.
Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/710573/gender-based-violence-need-for-pro-women-laws-stressed/