Govt committed to protect women from all kinds of violence

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Friday said the government was committed to emancipate women and protect them from all kinds of exploitation and violence.

“Violence against women is a serious human rights abuse that needs to be eliminated through coordinated efforts,” he said in his message on the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women being commemorated throughout the world on November 25.

The speaker said violence against women - both physical and mental - happens everywhere and its consequences last for generations, posing threats to social fabrics of societies around the globe.

He said political forces were determined to make Pakistan a place where everyone had the same opportunities to participate in all walks of life with dignity and self-esteem.

“Parliament of Pakistan is also fully aware of its responsibility to protect and guard the rights of women comprising more than half of the country’s population,” he added.

He referred to various steps of the present government to bring women into mainstream and ensure their suitable participation in government jobs and said, their quota had been raised from 5 percent to 15 percent.

Moreover, he said centers for immediate response were being constructed across the country for women who were victims of domestic violence as he also mentioned to formation of Women Parliamentary Caucus.

“This was the joint effort by the women parliamentarians as they are committed to play a key role in putting together different areas around a common agenda to ensure protection and of women rights."

Ayaz Sadiq called upon civil society, NGOs, international development partners, media, corporate sector and particularly the women themselves to come forward and play their role for protection of women rights against violence.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi in his separate message said women in Pakistan were greatly contributing in development and prosperity of the country.

He said any kind of violence, exploitation or discrimination tantamount to bar women in playing their role in growth of the country.

Abbasi noted that only with golden principles of gender equality and non-discrimination, a society could move forward in 21st century.