LAHORE: Speakers at a dialogue on Tuesday stressed the need for development of a systematic mechanism for policymaking and legislation to protect the rights of women. The session – Promotion and protection of socio-economic rights of women working in the agriculture sector in Punjab was organised by the Aurat Foundation. Panelists were women rights activist Mehnaz Rafi, Mohammad Shahid and Zaigham from Labour Department, Safdar Abbas of the Social Welfare Department, Agriculture Department additional secretary and representatives of law and women development departments. The session was aimed to hold a dialogue with members of the provincial assembly to share the gaps identified in its ‘participatory policy assessment’ done in the context of Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) and Sustainable Development Goals for promotion and protection of socio-economic rights to women working in the agriculture sector. The panelists were of the view that there was no existence of laws and policies for agrarian women while they are contributing their remarkable part in the agriculture production which is the backbone of the economy of Pakistan. Aurat Foundation Director Mumtaz Mughal explained the objective of the dialogue. She shared with the participants the findings of participatory policy assessment report, which says that 59 percent of women cannot spend their earnings according to their will in Pakistan, 65 percent are working in the fields and homes, while 83 percent have no access to their family inheritance. Moreover, 77 percent are unaware of the institutions of small loans, 81 percent women are working by compulsion and 85 percent are working exactly equal to the men but are getting low wages. Moreover, she said that there was no proper treatment in case of workplace injuries. “With the perspective of mobility, 40 percent of women face harassment while traveling, 92 percent have no access to the health facilities while 68 percent have to work during their pregnancy without proper food and nutrition facilities. Besides, 87 percent of women do not have knowledge about women protection legislation, and 90 percent women do not have information of their right to unionization”. Mumtaz said that they were not even familiar with the name of unions and / or committees. “This is all due to a major discrepancy that majority percentages of these women are illiterate and silent/inactive workers.” She said that there was a dire need to collect sex and gender disaggregated data to address the gender disparity facing women. “Secondly, skill development centres should be established at village level to enhance their abilities and capabilities to utilize modern technology. Thirdly, the government departments should collaboratively provide free bus service, medical facilities to them. Moreover, social safety nets should include women so that they could be the part of EOBI, PESSI, BISP, Khidmat Card, Zakat, and Bait ul Maal.” Published in Daily Times, November 14th 2018.