PESHAWAR
Members of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday called for a collaborative approach to advance gender mainstreaming and protect human rights.
This call to action was made during a Networking Forum organized by the Shaoor Foundation for Education and Awareness (SFEA), a non-profit civil society organization dedicated to advancing socio-political peacebuilding, democracy, governance, women’s empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
The forum took place here at local hotel under the title “Towards Inclusive Governance: A Networking Forum for Legislative Actions on Gender Rights.”
The event was attended by key members of the Provincial Assembly, including PTI MPA s Sher Ali Afridi, Fazal Elahi,
Ex Speaker KP Assembly Kiramat Ullah Khan chagharmati, and ANP MPA Nisar Baaz, along with representatives from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women, health department officials, educators, civil society organizations, media representatives, and political leaders from various parties.
SFEA presented a comprehensive overview of the current state of gender rights in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The organization emphasized that gender mainstreaming is a critical issue that must be prioritized.
During the forum, Nisar Baaz remarked that human rights and gender rights are constitutionally protected but remain inadequately enforced due to various challenges.
He stressed the importance of implementing existing legislation to achieve gender balance in society and acknowledged that women have equal rights to men but often lack access to these entitlements.
Nisar Baaz highlighted the necessity of freedom of expression, allowing individuals to voice their rights.
He said that while the issue of women’s rights is raised in the assembly, opposition members often struggle to have their voices heard.
Sher Ali Afridi expressed his commitment to ensuring rights for women, minorities, and transgender individuals, saying that the government is introducing new legislation aimed at protecting human rights.
He assured participants that the government’s proposed laws would be reviewed through a gender lens, with necessary amendments to the existing legal framework to provide relief to citizens.
Afridi also announced plans to establish district-level Public Safety Commissions that will include representation from both treasury and opposition members, as well as transgender individuals.
He acknowledged the historical challenges of implementing legislation in Pakistan but emphasized a commitment to learning from past experiences to create sustainable laws that reflect the needs of the province’s citizens.
Additionally, he announced an upcoming conference focused on women’s, transgender, and human rights to address ongoing challenges and propose solutions.
Fazal Elahi reiterated that Islam provides clear guidelines for the rights of women and other genders, asserting that applying these principles within the system could enhance access to rights for marginalized groups.
Kiramat Ullah Khan chagharmati voiced his concerns regarding government policies on women’s education and employment, emphasizing the need to educate girls and place them in the workforce.
Participants raised concerns about the government’s progress in addressing gender disparities and advocated for a collective, non-partisan approach to tackle this critical issue impacting society in the long term.
Yasir Abbasi, Program Manager of the Shaoor Foundation, shared recommendations for promoting gender equality and protecting gender rights. He pointed out that technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a growing concern that requires immediate policy action.
The lawmakers agreed on the urgent need for legislation to prevent such violence and protect human rights through democratic processes.
The event concluded with a commitment from civil society, media representatives, and elected officials to work collaboratively for the advancement of gender rights and the protection of human rights in Pakistan.
