International Women Day (2011)

Posted by Guest Contributor on Mar 7, 2011 in Social, The Thought | 1 comment

...as soon as possible.

Contributed by Inayatullah Rustamani for the International Women Day held across the world today. IdeasEvolved.com wishes to play her part to spread the noble message.

The International Women Day is celebrated on March 8 every year across the globe. The Human Rights Activists and NGOs appear to be champions of celebrations of this day. They make pledges to improve socio-economic and educational status of women wherever they are vulnerable. Pakistan is also apart of such celebrations. It is extremely shocking that these pledges in Pakistan appear to jus as rhetoric. The socio-economic and educational conditions of women have been debilitating in the face of high rate of violence against them and the denial of their rights.

Aurat Foundation presented its report titled “The Qualitative Review of Statistics 2009″ on June 30, 2010. The report revealed increase in violence against women in Pakistan. This further states that in 2008, there were 7571 violence cases in Pakistan, but took an upward trend and reached up to 8548 in 2009. This shows 13 per cent increase in violence against women as compared to incidents in 2008.

It is very much shocking that despite availability of women protection laws in Pakistan and some women themselves occupying high political portfolios in Pakistan, there is no reduction in violence and no  protection of poor and middle class women of the country. The staggering  violence figures of Aurat Foundation reveal that  in 2009 there were 5722 violence cases in Punjab, 1762 in Sindh, 655 in KP, 237 in Balochistan and 172 in Islamabad.

The violence against women is high in Punjab because some Chaudhris are patrons of such shameful acts, while in Sindh and Balochistan the landlords are powerful and in politics also and in the meanwhile some are themselves either involved in such acts or protecting the violators. While in the KP, women are victims of the Jirga system and the so-called Taliban.

In the face of so much given powerful elements, the women protection laws almost remain unimplemented or are twisted at the whims of these influential people.  The incumbent government’s Women Protection Law at Work Place; although, carries high punishment and fine for violators, but as the past laws are ineffective thus the results of this may not appear.

Pakistan is a country where women population is 53 per cent. It means that the women constitute bulk of our population. The welfare and protection of women rights is very crucial to improve image of the country within the country and abroad and ensure development of the country. This is possible when women protection laws are strictly implemented and the culprits are punished.

Moreover, the empowerment of women is possible when women are provided education and livelihood opportunities. An equal opportunity based system is in the interest of the country and in true sense will materialize the women
protection rhetoric of the country.

No related posts.