The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), member of FIDH, has demanded that efforts for promoting gender equality must go beyond ceremonial steps and pending legislation. Steps to ensure economic independence of women must be expedited.
In a statement issued on the eve of International Women’s Day, HRCP said: “Girls and women continue to face many challenges across Pakistan. Their dismal human rights situation is aggravated by failure to implement some positive legislative changes as well as undue delay in adopting proposed changes to the law.
“While we believe it is important to commemorate International Women’s Day as an occasion to reflect on progress and challenges during the past year, doing that alone does not change the ground reality. Improvement in the condition of girls and women will not come about through cosmetic or ceremonial steps or the rhetoric around 8 March every year.
“Violence against women in the form of so-called honour crime shows no sign of abating. Incidents of acid attack and forced conversion are also a reminder of the challenges at hand. Women and girls in conflict areas of the country, such as FATA and Malakand, and those who are internally displaced need particular attention. At a time when peace talks with militant extremists are high on the government’s agenda, it is important to take into account women’s concerns and not sign away their rights in a compromise.
"This year’s theme for March 8, “equality for women is progress for all” is particularly relevant to the situation in Pakistan. Experience from around the world shows that countries with greater gender equality, empowerment of women and greater role for them in various spheres have better economic growth, greater levels of tolerance and economic and social development.
"At the minimum, pending legislation such as changes to the Child Marriage Restraint Act, among others, should be expedited. The long delay in adoption of Hindu marriage law and changes in the Christian divorce law add to women’s problems.
"HRCP considers that the problems confronting girls and women will not go away until they gain equality, economic freedom, including their right to education, work and to inheritance. Laws alone cannot change the social attitudes that need to be changed to make gender equality a reality. Progress on that front remains far from encouraging. That must change forthwith.
"In view of the looming deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), International Women’s Day this year also serves as a reminder for Pakistan to review MDG implementation for women and girls and find ways to overcome hurdles hampering progress.”