ISLAMABAD: Awaz Foundation Pakistan, Ujala Network and Parliamentarian Commission for Human Rights demanded effective legislation, more budgets and mass sensitization on curtailing Gender Based Violence in Pakistan.
It was also reminded to all political parties and their legislatures that nothing is being asked beyond their commitments made by them in their respective political party manifestoes as well as by the Parliament.
A daylong session with Parliamentarians of National Assembly and Legislative Assembly of Gilgit Baltistan was organized regarding sexual & gender based violence by AwazCDS-Pakistan here at Islamabad.
Event was chaired by Mr. Riaz Fatyana and also attended by various Members National and GB Assembly including Ms. Shandana Gulzar, Dr. Shazia Soomro, Ms. Kishwar Zehra, M. Qasim Butt, M. Sohail, Ms. Dilshad Bano, Mr. Shams Lone, Ms. Nusrat Wahid, Ms. Ghazala Saifi, Ms. Zille Huma, Ms. Munawara Baloch and many others. AwazCDS-Pakistan, Ujala Network and Parliamentarian Commission for Human Rights presented a below CSOs Charter of Demand for Parliamentarians to Take Action & Keep Promises on Ending Violence Against Women and Children & Ensuring SRHR for all.
We Assert our identity as women & human rights defender organizations / platforms from all across Pakistan.
We Further Assert our indispensable role in the promotion & protection of women / human rights, addressing SGBV and demanding rightful spaces and choices of all life for all that are built on the foundations of Constitution of Pakistan and other universal/ global human rights instruments signed and ratified by government of Pakistan.
We are alarmed by the rapid increase in sexual & gender based violence instances against most vulnerable communities including women and children, transgenders, minorities and even people living with disabilities in Pakistan.
We are Deeply Concerned over the delays at the end of government towards timely legislations and policy interventions to address SGBV and to ensure SRHR for all in Pakistan .
We Stand in Solidarity with victims of SGBV and their families and Appreciate their firm stand against culprits and perpetrators.
We Condemn State and non-state actors especially leaders of religio-political parties, government functionaries, and their other extremist outfits and media persons on victim blaming and releasing misogynistic statements on women / girls physical appearance especially dresses .
We Note that pandemic has exacerbated the extent and dynamics of VAW&C both at domestic & societal level .
We Further Note with Concerns that pro-women and girls legislation especially the latest bill on ending domestic violence is being delayed.
We remind the government and ministries that nothing is being asked beyond the commitments made by them at Global and National level through various human rights treaties, accords, especially under UNDHR, ICPD, CEDAW and most recently SDGs.
We Further Reminded to all political parties and their legislatures that nothing is being asked beyond their commitments made by them in their respective political party manifestoes as well as by the Parliament.
SDGs were adopted as National Development Goals by Parliament of Pakistan in March 2016.
Therefore, We Call for Immediate and effective legislation to End Domestic and Spousal Violence that include provisions regarding prevention of violence against women, protection and support for the complainant/survivor, and prosecution and strict punishment of the perpetrator.
Implementation mechanisms to end gender based violence such as enhanced budgetary support on SDGs 5 related targets & indicators, the creation of specific centralized institutional mechanisms to monitor implementation and for the collection of comprehensive & sex-disaggregated statistical data of Rape and Violence against Women and Children cases.
Gender sensitive budgeting including other all allocated resources be matched with the requirements of national policies to end violence against women & SRHR for all.
Legislation with minimum age of 18 for marriage across Pakistan.
Parliamentarians to use their oversight powers to monitor violence against women.
Parliamentarians to speak up, explain the laws, and call the media, civil society organizations, the private sector and others to join in public education programs.
Parliamentarians to ensure that information and updates on VAW & SRHR related laws are easily accessible and translated into local languages.
Parliamentarians to show strong political will in order to address Domestic Violence, Rape and Early Age Marriage issues as a matter of priority.
National strategies to mainstream gender should be developed and supported to secure a coordinated approach and response to violence against women and to achieve SDG5.
Parliamentarians to hold public hearings on VAW&C issues.
Parliamentarians to re-visit the role of Council of Islamic Ideology in the legislative processes.
At the end, Zia ur Rehman (Chief Executive-Awaz Foundation Pakistan) demanded that Governments should not delay the pro-women & girls’ legislations and also make a practice of making Girls and Women rights a National discourse by discussing these topics a whole week during regular sessions.
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