Statement by Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Minister of State, Government of Pakistan at the General Debate of the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
(New York, 11 March 2015)

Madam Chairperson,

I warmly congratulate you on your election to chair this historic event. We appreciate the focused programme prepared for the 59th Session. We are hopeful that the review of Beijing Platform for Action will provide us an opportunity to identify the gaps and challenges, reaffirm commitment to further actions and accelerate progress towards fully realizing the goal of gender equality and women empowerment.

Madam Chairperson,

Beijing Conference represents a landmark in the global quest for gender equality and women empowerment. In pursuit of the vision of the Conference and the ideals of our Constitution, Pakistan continues to make endeavours to empower women and make them equal citizens and active partners in development. Today, Women in Pakistan are playing active role in every field of life. Pakistani women have been appointed to high positions including the office of Prime Minister, Parliamentary Speakers, Ministers, Ambassadors, Vice Chancellors and Judges of the Superior Courts.

Gender equality and women empowerment is among our top priorities. We have signed and ratified a number of human rights conventions including CEDAW, ICCPR, ICESCR and CRC, which ensure elimination of discrimination against women. During recent years, we have taken key practical measures to improve the status of women. As a follow up to Beijing Platform for Action, Pakistan launched National Plan of Action for the social, economic and political empowerment of Women. The Plan of Action was further substantiated by a National Policy for Development and Empowerment of Women. Since then, significant achievements have been made at both the normative as well as structural levels. Institutional mechanisms for women have been established at the federal and provincial levels, including women development departments and commissions on the status of women. The National Commission on Status of Women has been made an autonomous body. The Government has developed a comprehensive Poverty Reduction Strategy and initiated gender-responsive budgeting for poverty reduction among women. Benazir Income Support Programme, the largest safety-net programme in the country’s history, entails cash transfers to the poorest household to provide immediate support to destitute and vulnerable women. The Programme also provides opportunity for skill development, access to health, education and microfinance for women entrepreneurship. Prime Minister’s Business Loan Programme for youth has reserved 50% quota for women. Government has also distributed state land to landless farmers, seventy percent of whom were women. A ten percent quota in public services has been reserved for women. Women representation in national and provincial legislatures ranges from 17 to 20%. A Women Parliamentary Caucus has also been established which plays active role in highlighting and addressing women issues. In accordance with Beijing Platform for Action, up to 30% seats have been reserved for women in all three tiers of local governments.

On the legislative side, several laws discriminatory to women have been amended while new laws have been enacted to protect women against harassment at workplace, acid-crimes and killings in the name of honour. Anti-Women practices like forced marriages, exchange of women to settle disputes and depriving a women from inheriting property have also been banned through legislation. Ombudsman mechanisms have been established to exclusively deal with cases involving violation of women rights.

Madam Chair,

In conclusion, let me reiterate and reaffirm the firm commitment of the Government of Pakistan to pursue the unfinished agenda of MDGs, Beijing Platform for Action and ICPD. Pakistan strongly believes that the next global development agenda should include women development and women rights in a holistic and integrated manner so as to fully achieve the unfinished agenda of the Beijing Platform for Action within the time span of the post 2015 Development Agenda.

Thank You.