Human rights group welcomes new Pakistani law for women protection

Report: Zafar Iqbal

Islamabad, Thursday, November 05, 2009:

Press for Peace (PFP) has hailed the government of Pakistan for incorporating an important change in the criminal justice regulations in the country for the protection of women rights.

The government of Pakistan on Wednesday passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2009 which provides protection to working women at workplace from sexual advances and intimidation and violators will be punished with three years imprisonment or Rs. 500,000(5,990.90 $ ) fine or both.

Considering the new law as the landmark in the history of women rights in Pakistan, advocacy organization Press for Peace (PFP) said that new regulations will help more Pakistani women to join job sector without any fear.

“The new law will protect the rights of women employees working in both public and private sector,” it further said.

The statement said that a large number of highly educated women could not join the jobs and entrepreneurship because of insecure working environment and lack of necessary protection laws, but now they would find a legal shelter to protect from any unwanted incidents of violation of their basic rights.

It asked the government of Pakistan to take further steps to uplift the women, particularly, providing educational and skill development opportunities and facilities in the rural areas where the old traditions and religious restraints have hindered the independent and free movement of the women.

“The new legislation would build on principles of equal opportunity for men and women and their right to earn a livelihood without fear of discrimination as stipulated in the Constitution”, the statement maintained.

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