Islamabad: Jan 19 (APP):
The National Assembly (NA) on Thursday unanimously passed the National Commission for Women Bill, 2011 with certain amendments in its several clauses.The bill was tabled by Advisor to the Prime Minister Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, while the amendments were moved by both treasury and opposition benches, including PML-N’s Zahid Hamid and PPP’s Nafeesa Shah.
The Commission would be independent having autonomous status with full financial and administrative powers. Its fundamental functions will be to examine policies, programmes and other measures taken by the government for women uplift and gender equality. It will assess implementation and make suitable recommendations to the concerned authorities, considered necessary for effective impact. The Commission will also review all laws, rules and regulations, affecting the status and rights of women and suggest repeal, amendment or new legislation essential to eliminate discrimination, safeguard and promote women interest and achieve gender equality before law in accordance with country’s Constitution and obligations under international covenants and commitments.
The Commission will sponsor, steer and encourage research to generate information and dialogue with non-governmental organisations, experts and individuals in society and active association with similar commissions and institutions in other countries for collaboration and action to achieve gender equality and development at the national, regional and international level.
It will help facilitate and monitor implementation of international instruments and obligations affecting adult and minor females to which Pakistan is a signatory and advice the federal government before accession to any such proposed international instrument, protocol or treaty.
The new autonomous body will have the authority to generate its own fund through grants and donations in addition to a National Commission Fund to be established by the Federal Government. The commission will issue an annual report, which will include an account of its performance and utilisation of its funds and all executive authorities in Pakistan will assist commission in the performance of its functions.
The commission will consist of a chairperson, who shall be a person with experience of working on women rights issues for more than fifteen years, understand international commitments of the country, have a legal understanding and is committed to the cause of women empowerment. Two members from each province and one member each from Fata, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad Capital Territory and two members from minorities.
The ex-officio members will consist of representatives of Ministries of Law, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Interior and concerned ministry shall not be below BPS-20 and shall not have the right to vote and secretary of the Commission, who shall not have right to vote. A member shall not be less than thirty years of age, with experience of working on Women’s Rights issues for more than five years. It is pertinent to mention here that the bill was deferred on Wednesday due to certain reservations from members, particularly of PML-N’s Zahid Hamid. Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza arranged a meeting of all the stakeholders on the same day to evolve a consensus. The amendments were incorporated and as a result the bill sailed through smoothly on Thursday.
The new autonomous body will have the authority to generate its own fund through grants and donations in addition to a National Commission Fund to be established by the Federal Government. The commission will issue an annual report, which will include an account of its performance and utilisation of its funds and all executive authorities in Pakistan will assist commission in the performance of its functions.
The commission will consist of a chairperson, who shall be a person with experience of working on women rights issues for more than fifteen years, understand international commitments of the country, have a legal understanding and is committed to the cause of women empowerment. Two members from each province and one member each from Fata, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad Capital Territory and two members from minorities.
The ex-officio members will consist of representatives of Ministries of Law, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Interior and concerned ministry shall not be below BPS-20 and shall not have the right to vote and secretary of the Commission, who shall not have right to vote. A member shall not be less than thirty years of age, with experience of working on Women’s Rights issues for more than five years. It is pertinent to mention here that the bill was deferred on Wednesday due to certain reservations from members, particularly of PML-N’s Zahid Hamid. Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza arranged a meeting of all the stakeholders on the same day to evolve a consensus. The amendments were incorporated and as a result the bill sailed through smoothly on Thursday.
source: http://www.app.com.pk / Associated Press of Pakistan/ Friday. January 20th, 2012