NEW DELHI: With struggle against prejudice and for equality for women the same across the border, a four-member delegation of the National Commission on the Status of Women from Pakistan on Monday shared experiences with the Delhi Commission for Women.

"We met the members of the National Commission for Women on Monday. It has been decided that we should start a common body for all commissions in South Asia. We want to get it affiliated to SAARC. Women in this region have the same issues and face similar problems with men thinking that they are property," said Simi Kamal, member of the National Commission on the Status of Women.

Getting a feel of the way things are tackled here in India, the delegates met activists working with non-government organisations. They also sat in for counselling sessions.

Hudood Ordinances

Fighting a big battle against the Hudood Ordinances in Pakistan, the Pakistani team has taken a copy of the newly-passed Domestic Violence Act.

"Rape laws and adultery are covered under the Hudood Ordinances in Pakistan. The other laws about rape of male children come under the penal code. One of biggest achievements after it was established in 2002 is that we have got together a special committee to review these ordinances. The committee consisted of Supreme Court judges, lawyers and members of the Islamic Ideology Council. After a yearlong review process, the committee felt that these ordinances violate the teaching of Islam and they should be repealed," she said.

While the fight is a long one, Pakistan is also in the process of passing a Women's Protection Bill.

And there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful with the National Commission on the Status of Women trying to ensure that equality becomes a reality in the country.

Making a beginning, the Commission has launched an aggressive campaign against honour killing.

"Shrinking space"

"We have flooded the country with posters. We have tried to equate honour killing with murder. The big problem is that while women have made strides in different areas of life, the space for them to really reach their potential is shrinking. There are many good laws in Pakistan. Women can inherit property, but they are being violated and the violators are not being punished severely," lamented Ms. Kamal.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail