September 23, 2016

Achievements of Pak disabled women celebrated

Islamabad – American Counsellor for Public Affairs Christina Tomlinson yesterday joined members of the National Assembly and nongovernmental organisation representatives yesterday to celebrate the achievements of Pakistani women with disabilities.

At the Special Talent Exchange Programme Conference, she emphasised the importance of supporting the rights of women with disabilities so they can fully participate in all aspects of society.

“Promoting disability rights is an integral part of our efforts to promote human rights more broadly,” she said.

“We want to remove barriers and create a world in which disabled people everywhere enjoy dignity and full inclusion.

We work with governments and organizations like STEP to protect and promote the rights of disabled persons, and provide practical support to ensure their inclusion and full participation in society,” she added.

This conference marks the conclusion of a one-year, $375,000 program to support Pakistani women with disabilities funded by the American Embassy and implemented by STEP.

Throughout the past year, STEP has organized more than 90 training sessions, TV talk show discussions, and provincial workshops to increase public and Pakistani government awareness about the rights of women with disabilities and to provide livelihood training for women with disabilities.

“Women with disabilities face disadvantages in several key areas when compared with other women, men with disabilities, and society as a whole,” said STEP Programs Director Abia Akram.

“STEP, with the support of the American Embassy in Pakistan, initiated Supporting Women with Disabilities project to refine the approach of stakeholders and to help fully realize these women’s rights,” she said.

As this program comes to a close, the American Embassy and Mobility International are beginning collaboration on a new program to empower Pakistanis with disabilities and their allies.

Separately, the US Embassy and iEARN Pakistan staff yesterday welcomed home 19 female Pakistani students who recently participated in the Summer Sisters Exchange Programme at US universities, including Harvard, American University and Smith College.

The students, ages 15 to 18, spent the summer studying science, leadership and international affairs.
“The US Embassy sponsors this programme because all children – no matter their gender or their economic background – have the potential to develop into community leaders and deserve a quality education,” said US Embassy Deputy Cultural Affairs Officer Maureen Mimnaugh.

“I look forward to seeing the participants in this programme inspire other students in their communities and implement their new leadership skills,” he said.

The Summer Sisters Institute, launched in 2013 by the US-Pakistan Women’s Council, aims to provide a unique educational experience and mentor promising young Pakistani female students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. Since 2013, a total of 42 Pakistani girls have participated in this exchange programme.

“Exchange programmes like Summer Sisters are intensive, structured, and powerful,” said iEARN Pakistan Executive Director Farah Kamal.

“Through this programme, students develop lifelong friendships and gain knowledge, enthusiasm, and passion to make the world a better place.”

“Summer Sisters was the best summer of my life,” said 2015 programme alumna Kainat Kanwal, who attended American University’s Community of Scholars program.

“I especially enjoyed the opportunity to do community service alongside my American friends, and I used my new volunteering skills when I came home to set up a hygiene camp for mothers and children in Sialkot,” she said.

The Summer Sisters Exchange Programme is one of many exchange programmes sponsored by the US Department of State.

Every year, more than 1,300 Pakistanis travel to the United States on academic and professional exchange programmes.

The Nation

September 23, 2016

Barriers to women’s economic input

Despite forming half the population of the world, women in both developed and developing countries lag behind their male counterparts when it comes to participation in the workforce and economy. The pay gap between genders has hardly shrunk even in some of the world’s most advanced economies and there exist several legal and social barriers which prevent women from maximising their work potential either at salaried positions or through independent ventures. In developing countries these issues are exacerbated by laws and unwritten rules of behaviour that are still biased against women’s economic independence. In Pakistan for example, although there are some examples of extremely successful female professionals and business owners, women are largely absent from discourse pertaining to economic activities. Underrepresented both in legislative bodies and the management level of the corporate sector, new female entrants to the workforce find their paths blocked by policies that have been devised without keeping their needs or thought processes in mind.

In Pakistan, women’s primary role is still considered to be that of a caregiver. Although many now find their way to university, there is a tacit understanding that a choice will inevitably have to be made between building a family or building a career and that these are two incompatible goals. Under such pressures and confronted with such realities as their diminished status in matters of inheritance, lower pay, lesser chances of promotion and workplaces that do not accommodate working mothers all contribute to their giving up. Women who decide to set up their own businesses must contend with laws which do not consider them to be an independent individual but rather the dependent family members of their father, guardian or husband. As a consequence, women find it difficult to have their business ideas taken seriously and also to secure the necessary funding. It is also an uphill battle to develop extensive networks required for a successful business. Needless to say, there is much more that needs to be done by government bodies to support women who wish to join the workforce.

The Express Tribune

September 23, 2016

CII rejection: K-P set to table Women Protection Bill again

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is still considering tabling the Women Protection Bill, rejected by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), in the provincial assembly, the Adviser to CM on Information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Club here, he gave a preview of new legislative bills passed by the provincial assembly.

Answering a question, he said that the government is re-drafting the Women Protection Bill, making it conform to the tenets of Islam.

“The bill [Women Protection Bill] is still under consideration and the provincial government is committed to table it in the assembly,” Ghani said, adding, the Paksitan Tehrek-i-Insaf government had carried out more than 100 legislations after it was voted into power in the province.

According to him, 100 more laws were in the pipeline, adding that PTI chairman Imran Khan sought to change the system instead of focusing on development projects.

Criticizing the federal government, he said the provincial government had also sent summaries to President Mamnoon Hussain to extend acts such as the Right to Information Act and Right to Services Act to tribal areas, but the president is yet to sign these laws.

Referring to the law banning interest on private loans and the KP whistleblower act, Ghani said such laws would curb the occurrence of heinous crimes.

He said according to new laws, whoever molests any borrower or debtor with the intention of forcible recovery of loans shall be punished with a maximum prison term of five years or with a fine of Rs500,000.

He maintained that the whistleblower act would help in identifying corruption within government departments.

Talking about the Raiwind march, he said the protest rally was being staged as a last option in view of the federal government’s non-seriousness regarding carrying out transparent investigations into the Panama Papers.

Dawn