UNITED NATIONS: An environment of zero tolerance on violence against women is being created in Pakistan while the government gives top priority to women’s empowerment, Pakistan’s Acting Ambassador Farukh Amil told a United Nations (UN) panel on Monday. Farukh Amil was addressing the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural issues.

He said the goals of gender equality, women’s empowerment and ending violence against women across the world could be achieved only through international co-operation. “Unless financial resources are mobilized through domestic and international channels across all sectors, progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment will remain slow,” he said, adding that increased development assistance in education and health sectors, and the creation of jobs for women were vital for eliminating gender disparities and violence against women. He said women were vital contributors to the economic survival of poor households and overall economic output.

Eliminating gender discrimination, violence against women and equal participation in social, economic and political spheres are pre-requisites for sustainable development, he said. He said the Pakistani government had adopted measures which guaranteed equal rights for women and ensured their full participation in all spheres of national life. He said the country had launched programmes to monitor and stop crimes against women, adding the international community should honour its commitments towards official development assistance, debt relief and the opening of markets for women entrepreneurs.
Source: Daily Times
Date:10/15/2008