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S a u t e - e - N i s w a n The Voice of Women National Commission on the Status of Women NEWSLETTER FOR APRIL TO JUNE, 2011 ISSUE - 6 Inside this Issue E d i t o r i a l Editorial 1 The most important development that took had been given the responsibility for provid- place during the quarter was the approval by ing secretarial support to NCSW as per the Talk on Food Security 2 the Cabinet Division of a Bill for establish- NCSW Ordinance 2000, was also devolved Consultation on ing an autonomous National Commission at the end of June. Though this decision had ‘Administrative changes 2 for Women. This was achieved as a conse- been announced more than a year before, after 18th Amendment quence of the seven-year long struggle bureaucratic resistance to the process of waged by the National Commission on the devolution led to the freezing of our account Press Briefing by 3 NCSW’s NIWC Status of Women. It was Justice (R) Majida six weeks before the MoWD was due to be Researche Studies 4 Cabinet approves the bill for establishment of an Meeting with Mr. Raza autonomous national commission for women 4 Rabbani, Minister IPC Razvi who, as Chairperson NCSW first tried Meeting of NCSW Law 4 devolved. This naturally posed serious ad- Committee to introduce amendments in 2004 in the ministrative problems for the Commission, Meeting on Devolution 5 NCSW Ordinance 2000 to make it finan- but nevertheless, program activities were cially and administratively autonomous, as NCSW Board Meeting 5 continued without interruption. The process is the norm with other such of transition is currently un- Focus Group Discussion 5 commissions around the derway, and it is hoped that on Inheritance Law world. Efforts were contin- these problems will be ironed Seminar on '18th ued by her successor, Ms out without much further Amendment: Opportuni- 5 Arifa Syyeda Zehra, and by delay. ties and Challenges Ms Anis Haroon, who took VAW: Case of elderly over as Chairperson in Under its strengthened man- 6 woman March 2009. The present date the Commission will be able to better fulfill it‟s re- Interaction with the government was fully sup- Women’s Parliamentary 6 portive of the Commis- sponsibilities as a watchdog Caucus sion‟s efforts, and twice the body and play its role more Presentation to Afghan Prime Minister Mr. Yusuf effectively in monitoring the 6 Women Parliamentarians Raza Gilani directed that implementation of policies the Commission should be and laws from the women‟s NCSW Celebrates Pro- 7 th vincial Autonomy Day given autonomy, once in perspective. The post 18 March 2010 and again in Amendment scenario poses Advocacy with National/ 2011. Many hurdles had to new challenges. It demands Provincial Leadership/ 7 that the NCSW should main- Policy Makers on be crossed, but finally the tain a close working relationship with Women Issues approval has been given by the Cabinet. Another important development in the coun- women‟s machineries at the provincial and Press Releases 9 try was the completion of the process of local level, and improve coordination and devolution of subjects from the Federal networking with different stakeholders in Staff Inductions 9 Government to the Provinces, as stipulated order to promote the rights of women as th Picture Glimpses 10 by the 18 Constitutional Amendment. The enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan and Ministry of Women‟s Development, which committed to in international treaties. 1 of 11 Volume 1 Issue 6 April—June 2011 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE QUARTER Talk on Food Security The devastating floods in 2010 had caused much hardship food security and economic development that benefits the and exacerbated poverty in the flood affected areas. In people. addition, the country further had to contend with the un- Najma spoke about the rights of the poor, food security and precedented food inflation that had undermined food secu- peace. She especially focused on the problems being faced rity in the entire region. As is the norm, it is the women by people in the flood affected areas and talked about sim- who are most at risk and most likely to suffer from ill ple, doable measures that can be taken by citizens and gov- health and malnutrition when families do not have enough ernment to meet the food needs of the people on an urgent resources for food and other essentials. While government basis. For those of us in cities she stressed that every person was struggling to rehabilitate the flood affected popula- can play a role in ameliorating the situation by growing tion, it was felt that some attention also needed to be given vegetables and planting fruit trees. Two short documenta- to the role of citizens in these times of hardship. With this ries, produced by Deneb Sumbal were shown to demon- in mind, the National Commission on the Status of strate how food could be grown in small containers if land Women (NCSW) invited Najma Sadeque, a founding was not available. Her talk evoked much interest in partici- member of Shirkatgah, writer and activist, to talk about pants and media representatives. Consultation on ‘Administrative changes after 18th Amendment in Provincial Key Departments’ A consultative meeting was that perpetu- this study should be used by arranged at the national level ated gender inequality and legislators as a live document on March 29 to discuss the recommendations to reverse drafted in a local framework implementation process the adverse impact of such since it offers guidelines in of 18th Constitutional Amend- policies were discussed. approaching, understanding ment and its implications from a gen- The Secretary, Interpr der perspective. The meet- ing was attended by the ovincial Coordination Ministers for Women‟s Committee gave a Development from Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber comprehensive briefing Pakhtunkhwa and represen- on the impact of the tatives of provincial gov- ernments and civil society. devolution process and roles and responsibilities of key players at The Secretary, Interprovincial The study specifically fo- and rethinking gender policy in Coordination Committee on cuses on labour, education, the Federal and the immediate time-frame the 18th Amendment, gave a health, social protection, for policy makers and other provincial level as comprehensive briefing on the procedural policies on fam- stakeholders. impact of the devolution proc- ily laws and violence regards women’s rights It was stressed that the study ess and roles and responsibili- against women, and conflict was completed before the pas- and legislation. ties of key players at and security issues. It at- sage of the the Federal and provin- tempts to lo- 18th Amendment and, in view cial level as regards women‟s cate policy concerns that are of the changed situation, ur- rights and legislation. derived from the specific gent consultations with the The meeting also highlighted issues faced by Pakistani relevant policy makers from all the issues concerning the pre- women with a focus on cur- provinces and regions, includ- vailing gender policies and rent problems, rather than ing AJK and FANA, were re- discriminatory practices iden- outlining long-term vision- quired to end the prevalent tified by NCSW‟s detailed ary goals structural research study conducted last for gender equality. gender inequalities and vio- year by Afiya Zia. Policies The NCSW stressed that lence against women. 2 of 11 Volume 1 Issue 6 April—June 2011 Press Briefing by NCSW’s National Implementation Watch Committee on Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2010 The National Implementa- sons in the provinces as calling bank officials for a tion Watch Committee specified in the Act. She training program in order to (NIWC) constituted by announced that NIWC expedite compliance. Simi- NCSW met at the NCSW members had decided to larly, in spite of the fact that office on 19th April. The focus on the provinces in the Higher Education Com- NIWC met to review pro- gress on the implementation process of the Sexual Har- assment at Workplace Act. Ms. Salma Each member of the com- mittee discussed problems Qureshi, Additional and shared achievements. The meeting was chaired by Secretary Women’s Ms Anis Haroon, Chairper- Development son NCSW, and conducted by Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Chair- Department person, NIWC. Balochistan, Ms Anis Haroon, Chairper- reported that the text son NCSW, spoke about the of the law and the role of the Commission as a their second year work plan. mission had issued guide- watchdog body that moni- lines for adopting anti sex- Code of Conduct had tors laws, policies and prac- After the meeting a press ual harassment policies, been circulated to all tices to protect and promote briefing was held during universities have not yet got the rights of women. Dr. which Dr. Fouzia Saeed back with information to Ministries. Fouzia Saeed reported that answered queries from me- confirm that committees several cases were being dia representatives. A data- have been formed, or are reported to the committees base that showed the names being formed as required by set up in different organiza- of the companies and or- the anti sexual harassment tions. Mr Sajjad Sipra from ganizations that had com- law. The database will be the Punjab Women‟s Devel- plied with the legislation available on the website opment Department said was distributed. soon. that some initiatives that had been taken in the province The database showed that Participants included Jamil towards implementing the the media, which was quick Yusouf, a well respected law. Salma Qureshi, addi- to conduct accountability of journalist from Karachi, tional secretary Women‟s others, had failed to form Omar Hameed Khan from Development Department committees in their own the PM Secretariat, Balochistan, reported that offices or comply with other Mohammad Waseem from the text of the law and the measures required by the the Interactive Resource Code of Conduct had been law.

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