ISLAMABAD: The bill concerning sexual harassment will support women at federal, provincial and district levels, Federal Social Welfare and Special Education Minister Samina Khalid Ghurki said on Thursday.

Talking to APP, she said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government would take more steps to provide relief to rural women. The bill incorporates extensive inputs from a diverse range of civil society organisations, including women’s rights organisations, legal experts and labour rights bodies, she said. “The involvement of civil society in legislation is a good step,” the minister said. She said talks were underway to increase women’s quota in employment. She said the National Assembly speaker was interested in women’s empowerment. Samina said the bill would also provide relief to domestic workers, particularly those working in the rural areas. As the next step, the government will expand the ambit of protection to cover semi-employed and household women who face harassment outside workplaces, she added.
Source: Daily Times
Date:11/14/2008