ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is committed to obey the international obligations on the status of women and has enacted many laws and brought in many reforms to empower the women in the country.
Federal Secretary Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Zafar Ullah Khan said this while addressing 58th Session of UN Commission on the Status of Women, being held at UN Headquarters in New York.
The Secretary was accompanied by Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson, National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), said a fax message received here today.
The Session is discussing the various thematic areas and the emerging challenges being faced by women in the world.
As per thematic areas such as the priority theme, it is challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for women and girls.
In the areas of Review Theme, access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology including for the promotion of women's equal access to full employments and decent work is being discussed.
The Emerging Issue is women's access to productive resources.
During the sideline meetings, the Secretary met Swiss Delegation headed by Minister of Women Affairs of Switzerland.
He also met Minister for Women Affairs of the Netherlands, Deputy Executive Director, UN Fund for Population (UNFPA), Minister for Health of Luxembourg and Minister for Social Policy of Turkey.
He discussed bilateral relations with the dignitaries and issues relating to the status of women and briefed them about the steps taken by the Government of Pakistan for the empowerment of women.
He apprised that the government of Pakistan has fixed quota for women in the Senate, National Assembly, Provincial Assemblies and at Local Governments and in Civil Services of Pakistan to bring them at mainstream policies making process of the country.
The Government of Pakistan has enacted many pro-women laws in recent years, including The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Criminal law (Insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment) Criminal Law Amendment Acts ,(Hurt caused by corrosive substance(acid),Punishment for giving a female in marriage or otherwise in badl-esulh, wanni or swaraa, Women in Distress and Detention Fund (Amendment) Act.
In the on going session, the Government of Pakistan has endorsed the Agreed Conclusion of the Session as it would help in protection of rights of women in the country.