Senate passes 'The National Commission on Status of Women Bill, 2012'

The Upper House of Parliament on Thursday unanimously passed 'The National Commission on the Status of Women Bill, 2012', tasked to promote of social, economic, political and legal rights of women as enshrined in the constitution. Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, adviser to prime minister on Human Rights moved the bill, whereas a large number of jubilant women rights activists belonging to different walks of life, witnessed its passage from the visitors' gallery.
The parliamentarians belonging to religious political parties like Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) were a bit hesitant at first, seeking some amendments but finally succumbed to the pressure of majority, especially women, who were hell-bent to get it through. According to the bill, the commission will be administratively and financially independent with powers of a civil court compared to some previous toothless predecessors and with a key role of parliament in its constitution.
Its preamble cited the main objectives of what the government called the fulfilment of one of its promises for the emancipation of Pakistani women as "promotion of social, economic, political and legal rights of women" as provided in the Constitution and "in accordance with international declarations, conventions, treaties, conventions and agreements relating to women, including the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women".
A woman of more than 15 years' experience in working on women's rights and "committed to the cause of women's empowerment" as its chairperson, the commission will have two members - at least one of them being a woman - from each province, one woman member each from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, the Islamabad Capital Territory, and Minorities, five ex-officio but non-voting members representing ministries of law, finance, foreign affairs, interior and the ministry concerned with women's rights of not below BPS-20, and chairperson or a designated member of each provincial commission on women's rights set up under provincial laws. A member must be at least 30 years of age, having experience on women's rights for more than five years and "committed to the cause of women's empowerment".
The bill said chairperson and members, including ex-officio, would be appointed by the prime minister from among names recommended by the parliamentary committee from a list agreed with the leader of opposition in the National Assembly containing three names for each post - or separate lists to be sent by the two in case of difference between them.
The parliamentary committee of up to 12 members will be constituted by the National Assembly Speaker with 50 percent representation each for the treasury and opposition benches based on the strength of parties to be nominated by their respective parliamentary leaders, one-third of them being from the Senate.
A long list of functions of the commission includes examining the federal government's policy and programmes for gender equality, women's empowerment, political participation, representation, assessing their implementation and making suitable recommendations, reviewing all laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of women and suggesting repeal, amendment or new legislation to eliminate discrimination, safeguarding and promoting the interest of women and achieving gender equality.
Other functions include sponsoring research, maintaining a database on gender issues, interacting with non-governmental organisations, mobilising grants from domestic and international agencies approved by the government, recommending signing or ratification of international instruments, inquiring complaints of violations of women's rights, and inspecting jails.