Speakers for strict legislations to address gender-based violence

Speakers at a multi-parties conference have demanded of the provincial government to make strict legislations to address gender-based violence issues, besides to ensure gender equality and all fundamental rights to children and women folk.
The conference titled "Challenges to Engendered Legislation in Pakistan", was jointly organised by the Blue Veins, a women rights based organisation, and the Provincial Alliance to End Early, Child and Forced Marriages at press club on Thursday.
Notable speakers include PPP leader Ghani Gul Mehsud, Shagufta Malik, Palwasha Abbas of ANP, Mukhtar Bacha from National Party, Haider Zaman of Awami Workers Party, PML-Q leader Arbab Mir Afzal, and PTI activist Robina, Radesh Tony from minorities' community, Qamar Naseem from Blue Veins. Besides, a large number of members of civil society organisations, women activists, lawyers, representatives of non-governmental organisations attended.
The speakers criticised that the incumbent provincial government had completely failed to ratify any laws to protect the women and children rights. However, the political leaders have expressed disagreement about denial of specific legislations to address gender-based violence and ensure gender quality in the province.
The participants stressed the need of promulgation of right based laws to ensure equality and non-discrimination towards children and women, particularly trans-gender community in the society.
They suggested civil society organisations and legislators to develop advocacy strategies and hold dialogues with parties holding reservations, to foster greater understanding on the need for change and ensure that draft legislation was in line with best practice and international standards and at the same time to train those involved, and to monitor it, once passed.
Former provincial legislator, Shagufta Malik said 'In order to build a great socialist society, it is of the utmost importance to arouse the broad masses of women to join in productive activity. Men and women must receive equal pay for equal work in production. Genuine equality between the sexes can only be realised in the process of the socialist transformation of society as a whole.'
Qamar Naseem said though there had been growth in popular feminism over the past few decades, it had faced numerous setbacks, including the unwillingness of the patriarchal state government to implement change without serious pressure to do so, and an equivalent unwillingness to enforce new laws once they were put into force.