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Madam. Chairperson,
Let me start by whole-heartedly thanking the Commission on the Status of
Women, for the outstanding contribution it has made for advancing the cause of
women all over the world. On behalf of the Pakistan delegation I want to
acknowledge the valuable work done by the Commission in monitoring the
implementation of the Beijing and Beijing + 5 documents. These documents are now
complemented by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) all of which relate to
women directly or indirectly. Achieving these goals is vital. The UN Secretary
General himself has said "There is no time to loose if we are to reach the MDGs
by the target date of 2015. Only by investing in the world's women can we expect
to get there”.
Madame Chairperson,
Let us pick up the threads of time from where we dropped them last year.
Yesterday we talked about political empowerment of women in Pakistan and proudly
shared with the Commission that we had 33% women in the local bodies and nearly
20 % in the Parliament. This made us leaders in our region. Today we want to
tell you that twenty seven thousand women councilors have been trained under our
Women’s Political Participation Programme also known as W3P and 1000 have become
computer literate. The UN has selected W3P as a best practice from Pakistan.
The next logical step in this area is the creation of Women Political Schools by
the middle of this year. These schools will be training academies for women
aspiring to political office at various tiers of governance. The aim is to
empower and equip these women with the skills necessary to legislate and serve
their constituencies.
Out of a total of 234 women parliamentarians in Pakistan, 11 are Ministers in
the Federal and Provincial Cabinets. Four are present in this hall today.
Madame Chairperson,
Yesterday we talked about honour killings and hadood laws. Today we would like
to tell the Commission that we have a report from the Pakistan National
Commission on the Status of Women on the hadood laws. The Commission, which was
created three years ago, has examined these laws and has recommended their
repeal. The report is being examined by the Government for appropriate action.
We also have legislation ready against honour killings. Soon it shall be
submitted to the Cabinet and then to the Parliament.
Yesterday, we talked of economic empowerment of women. Today, it is the 'Hunarmand
Aurat' – ‘talented woman’ and 'Jafakash Aurat' - ‘hard working woman’. The
Hunarmand Aurat programme aims to provide a place for women entrepreneurs
looking for opportunities to network together to foster growth and success in
their business ventures using the concept of business incubation centers. The
Jafakash Aurat project, is directed at rural women. The programme aims to
provide microcredit for buying milch cattle and to sell milk from these cattle
to dairy cooperatives. It will give rural women control over resources.
We will soon establish Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Pakistan. In
this context we wrote to the Secretary General of SAARC. Our idea has been
accepted. Pakistan will host the Conference of SAARC Business Women in September
2004.
Yesterday, it was the problem of the girl child and her education and health and
today we have a successful project namely “Tawana Health Pakistan”. This is a
school feeding programme for girls in 5,300 schools in the poorest 29 rural
districts of Pakistan and will benefit more than half a million girls. Total
cost of the programme is around US $ 60 million.
Madame Chairperson,
In February this year, Pakistan proudly hosted the Third Summit of the First
Ladies of the Regional Steering Committee on Advancement of Rural and Island
Women of the Asia Pacific Region (RSCAP), whose current Chairperson is Begum
Sehba Musharraf, the First Lady of Pakistan. Thirteen countries attended the
Summit. The Summit adopted a set of recommendations called the Islamabad
Declaration, which will guide our actions for the next three years.
Madame Chairperson,
The themes selected for discussion and agreed conclusions this year, are
relevant and timely. With regard to the “role of men and boys in gender
equality”, I have the honour to invite all participating delegations to visit an
exhibition of posters and paintings organized by the Ministry of Women
Development of Pakistan and UNESCO Pakistan on this theme, in the lobby outside
at 1300 hours today.
We are proud of what Pakistan has achieved in empowerment of women. We have
struggled and progressed with whatever resources we could muster. I must
reiterate that Pakistan by the Grace of God, under the leadership of President
Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, is committed to
remain a moderate and progressive Muslim state as envisioned by our founder
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Finally, let us address a very important issue. Let us talk peace. If we can
recognize that we can defend our borders and yet educate our children. If we can
recognize that we can hear all voices and not lose our own. If we can think
global and act local. At present, South Asia is experiencing a thaw. Two weeks
ago, the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India met in Islamabad. There have
been exchanges of groups of artists, sportsmen, journalists, businessmen,
politicians, etc. I think it is time for the women of Pakistan and India to take
the lead. For if the men at some stage may refuse to get out of the past, then
it is up to us, women to choose a future and I think we are ready for this task.
We can bring a just and lasting peace to our region.
Let us dedicate this initiative of peace millions of toiling women of South
Asia, who at this moment could be working in the fields - carrying bricks on
their shoulders, climbing mountains with pitchers of water on their heads,
little girls who could be cooking, washing dishes, or mopping floors, with their
rag dolls and books, hidden away under in piles of dirty dishes and soiled
linen. We also owe this initiative to our mothers, the most important women in
the world.
I thank you, Madam. Chairperson.