24th November, 2024; Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq underscored the significance of ensuring and providing safety to women from all forms of physical violence, psychological harm & exploitation. He emphasized that the safety and dignity of women must be upheld in all spheres of life, including workplaces, public spaces, and online spaces. He urged the public at large to collectively take responsibility in ensuring the safety of women as relatives, colleagues, and fellow citizens. NA Speaker also mentioned the exemplary teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) for uplifting and preserving the rights of women as relatives and valuable members of the society for the first time ever in human history. He expressed these views on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, celebrated annually on November 25 under the auspices of the United Nations.
NA Speaker lamented the blatant violence and gross human rights violations perpetrated against women by fascist regimes in Palestine, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and Lebanon. He expressed deep concern over the vulnerabilities women face in these regions, where they face extreme violence and their rights are ruthlessly violated in the most brutal forms. Additionally, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, stressing the urgent need for collective action to protect women during natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and other environmental crises. He called for comprehensive solutions to ensure that women receive adequate shelter, safety, and the basic necessities during such calamities.
Furthermore, NA Speaker mentioned the continuous efforts of Parliament of Pakistan to promote the safety of women along with the political, economic, and social empowerment of women, as outlined in the Constitution of Pakistan. He highlighted the Parliament’s commitment to ensuring adequate female representation by mandating political parties to allocate a fixed percentage of party tickets to women in General Elections. Furthermore, he stated that the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) within the National Assembly is a cross-party and non-partisan platform proactively working to elevate the socio-economic and political status of women across the country. He also noted the success of the WPC in advocating for the establishment of similar caucuses in provincial assemblies of Pakistan. He further stated that the National Assembly of Pakistan has a Parliamentary Taskforce on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is actively promoting gender equality among other 16 SDGs. He also highlighted the significance of Articles 25, 26 and 27 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan along with the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010, which ensure protection of women, gender-equality, equal access to public services and safeguards from discrimination in services.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq called on all stakeholders to positively contribute towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women. He reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Parliament of Pakistan to eradicate violence against women through informed legislation, enhanced female political representation, and provision of adequate opportunities to women so that they can play a pivotal role in the socio-economic and political development of the country.
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