'Federal Minister Calls a Meeting to Devise Action Agenda for Crimes Against Women

Islamabad, September 16, 2008: To frame an effective response to the recent crimes against women, the Federal Minister for Women Development has called a meeting of concerned ministers, government officials, public representatives and civil society members.

The meeting, to be held in Islamabad on September 17, will be chaired by the Federal Minister for Women Development. Participants include: the Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Farooq Naek, Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar, Senator Sadia Abbasi, MNA Zubaida Jalal, MNA Bushra Gohar, Secretary Federal Ministry for Women Development, Secretary Ministry for Social Welfare and Special Education, Secretary Federal Ministry for Interior, Secretary Ministry for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Home Secretary Government of Balochistan, Inspector General Province of Balochistan, DG Sibbi and DG National Police Bureau, and prominent members of the civil society.

“The Islamabad meeting will devise an Action Agenda for recent crimes against women,” said Ms Sherry Rehman briefing the media about the Thursday meeting. “In the last two weeks alone, there have been several reports of women being subjected to abusive practices including rape cases and honour killing crimes in Balochistan and Sindh and acid burns cases in the Punjab. This is clearly a countrywide phenomenon and our government has a very clear position on acts of human rights abuse. A parliamentary democracy has absolutely no space for a culture that violates the fundamental rights of people.”

Ms Rehman said that the President and the Prime Minister have repeatedly stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to respond to crimes targeting our women. “The Islamabad meeting is a step in the same direction,” said Ms Rehman.

“There is a need for demonstration of total commitment on the part of all stakeholders, including the common citizens, against the discriminatory culture and practices against our women. It has to be treated as violation of human rights and any justification or reasoning for such acts is completely unacceptable,” said Ms Rehman reiterating the government’s pledge to pursue strong legislation and law enforcement to ensure an end to the tradition that denies basic rights to the women of the country.

Ms Rehman said that the government has the political will to pursue the agenda of women development and root out crimes against women. “However, apart from policy formulation and implementation efforts, there is certainly need for strong social pressure on elements endorsing such practices. This is only possible through aggressive lobbying by public representatives, the civil society and the media, to develop consensus against discriminatory acts against women.”

The Federal Women Development Minister informed that the government will set up a mechanism to follow up on the outcomes of the September 17 meeting. “We will emphasise on establishing structures and linkages to strengthen the institutional response to crimes against women. Surely, negative traditions and culture cannot be curbed in a matter of months. It is a long journey and it is only possible if the government’s sustained efforts against such acts are supported by all stakeholders.”