Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Australian High Commission and UN Women brought together a number of influential citizens on Thursday to discuss the progress towards gender equality in Punjab, taking as their point of reference the landmark Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016.

Earlier this year, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016, the first legislation of its kind in Pakistan, and the South Asia region, to have its own implementation structure and violence against women centres (VAWCs).

In her opening remarks, Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson said that violence against women was a very serious problem affecting all societies and every country. “Gender equality is a core foreign policy priority for Australia, and I am reassured to be joined today by colleagues from all sectors of society who are committed to advancing the rights of women and promoting gender equality, not only in Pakistan, but globally, both as a human right, and out of sheer economic good sense,” she said.

UN Women Pakistan country representative Jamshed Kazi said in his address that over the past few months, there seems to have been a surge in country-wide reported cases of violence against women with some resulting in killings of a tragic nature taking a devastating toll on women, men, children, families, communities and all of Pakistan.

He said that violence against women was one of the biggest threats for any society to fully function and tackling the pandemic that reaches almost every woman once in her lifetime where one in three women experience violence, must be everyone’s top priority. He said that the Punjab government was to be commended for taking a bold, progressive and much-needed step to go ahead with their Protection of Women Against Violence Act.

He said that if the act was implemented in letter and spirit, it would bring positive change for women in Punjab and set an example to provide remedies against violence for women and girls throughout Pakistan. “We need to collectively support the state and the judiciary to uphold their responsibilities to deter such crimes in the first place, and ensure that people who commit them are swiftly brought to justice.”

While presenting the salient features and significance of Punjab’s comprehensive initiatives to protect women against violence, Chief Minister’s Special Monitoring Unit’s (Law and Order Wing) senior member Salman Sufi said that the collective fight against ending the violence against women required a united front. “Punjab has sent a message to the world that we will never accept violence against women as a norm in society. The Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016 speaks for itself as to this resolve.”

The panel discussion, on progress towards gender equality in Punjab hosted by the Australian high commissioner included Punjab Commission on Status of Women Chairperson Fauzia Viqar and Supreme Court Advocate Hina Jilani. The discussion focused on the provincial responsibilities (post-devolution) to ensure comprehensive measures protecting women and justice to women survivors.

It also addressed Punjab’s progress in other key areas towards gender equality including women’s economic empowerment, education for girls, and women’s voice in decision making. The special monitoring unit was lauded by the panelists and the participants for spearheading the drafting and passage of the key legislation on the directive of the Punjab chief minister to end violence against women in the province. The legislation would provide a helpful model for other provinces and countries.