Achievements of Mohtarma Bhutto government in advancing Women Rights
1. In
1993, Mohtarma Bhutto’s Government subscribed to the Vienna Declaration
which recognized women’s rights as human rights.
2. In
1994, led by her, Pakistan’s delegation actively participated in the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo
and acceded to its Programme of Action reaffirming the principles of
gender equality and equity, the empowerment of women, guaranteeing
women’s right to development and her reproductive rights and eradication
of poverty.
3.
She also led the delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women held
in Beijing in September 1995 and presented a report of strong
commitments to women’s rights and development.
The
Platform for Action and the declaration as adopted in the conference
focused on the critical areas of concern for women and outlined an
action-oriented strategy for the solution of their problems.
Affirming its commitment to women’s uplift, the Government under premier
Bhutto in collaboration with donors initiated a process of setting up
Beijing Follow-up mechanisms throughout the country.
To
facilitate post Beijing activities a Beijing Follow up Unit was set up
in the Ministry of Women Development and one each in the Women
Development Departments of the four provinces.
4. In
February 1996, Pakistan ratified the United Nations’ Convention for the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); this
was a major achievement of the People’s Party government on
international covenants pertaining to the rights of women.
5.
Restoration of Women seats in National and Provincial Assemblies. The
Government was ready to move an amendment for this when it was
dismissed.
6.
Five percent quota in for women in Employment was fixed in all
Government departments.
7.
Crisis Centre for Women in distress. – The Government set-up “Crisis
Centres for women in Distress” in Islamabad and at Vehari. These were
pilot projects which aimed at providing medical and legal aid to the
women victims of violence. The 24 hour centres were by NGOs. The
Management Committee comprised NGOs and Government Servants. Teams of
volunteer Doctors, Lawyers and Social Workers were associated with the
Centres to help women in distress. The PPP Government expanded the
program to other urban and rural areas.
8.
Muslim Women's Parliamentary Union was formed. This was a path breaking
initiative and brought together women parliamentarian from 21 Muslim
Countries. The first meeting was held in Islamabad and the second in
Malaysia.
9. A
Women's Sports Board was established to promote women's participation in
sports and prepare Pakistani Women athletes for international
competitions. The First Islamic Women's Games were held in Pakistan.
B.
INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING FOR POLICY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENT:
Thirteen focal point were designated in various Ministries, Divisions
for a systematic Gender Sensitization Training Programme for officers of
various Ministries in the Federal Government and also Provincial
Departments to improve upon the existing process of identification,
planning, implementation and performance evaluation of women’s
programmes and projects. The objective was to strengthen the role of the
Ministry and simultaneously bring about substantial improvement in
women’s share in public sector employment and training.
Non-Development Budget and Utilization. The years 1993-96 on an average
reflect an increase of 42.78% over allocations of 1991-92 and 1992-93.
The
year 1994-96 on an average reflect an increase of 92.70% as compared to
the allocations to 1993-94
Public Sector Development Programme:
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Medical Technical Assistants (MTA). Her government launched Training
Programmes for Girls to Provide Skills for marketable jobs at
Institute of Public Health Lahore, at D.H.O Hospital, Sargodha, at
Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences Sheikh Zaid Post-Graduate
Medical Institute, Lahore, at B.V. Hospital Bahawalpur, at DHQ.
Hospital, Jehlum, at National Hospital, Karachi, at Hayat Shaheed
Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, and at Abbottabad.
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To provide support to mothers at work, Day Care Centre were
established at Government College for Women, T. T. Singh (under
Umbrella Project), at Women Development Social Welfare and Special
Education, F.G. Girls Colleges in Cantt/Garrisons.
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Computer Training Centre at Jhang, Islamabad.
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Establishment of Hostel for Working Women at Gujranwala, Hyderabad
and Sukkur, Quetta.
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Women Training Institute at Sahiwal.
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Construction of 50 Rooms Women’s Hostel at Lahore.
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Establishment of Mobile Hospital for T.B and Gynae Women Patients,
at Raheem Yar Khan.
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Rearing and Development of Silk Worm Realing and Weaving of Silk
Thread for Rural Women in Sindh.
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Strengthening of Training of Women Folk in Fruit and Vegetable
Production and Preservation, NWFP.
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Construction of Maternity Home with Equipment at Mensehra.
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Setting up of Six Community Centres at Islamabad.
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Women Income Generating Scheme in ICT.
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Creation of Additional Women Mobile Civil Protection Training Teams
at Islamabad.
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MSc Women’s Studies, at Allama Iqbal University, Islamabad.
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Centre of Excellence for Women Studies Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta
and Peshawar.
WOMEN DEVELOPMENT
1.
The focus was in on improving education of women, expanding their health
facilities and providing openings for their income generation; removal
of discrimination in education and employment and better information on
women’s issues, on their rights and responsibilities; and increasing
participation of women in employment.
2.
Special efforts were made to improve women’s education skill and
employability. These included (i) expanding education and training
facilities for women; (ii) opening up avenues of their employment in all
walks of life; (iii) reservation of special quota in public sector jobs
(iv) creation of congenial atmosphere in offices and factories, and (v)
removal of sex bias in employment. Facilities and incentives were
extended for self-employment and development of cottage industries.
3.
38,000 women benefited through the specialized training facilities to be
provided at the provincial and federal levels. Women’s participation in
the fields of agriculture, livestock development poultry/fisheries was
facilitated. Access to credit facilities was increased.
4.
During the three years (1993-96) of the PPP Government, programmes
included.
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Vocational training programme in the field of secretariat work,
computers, communications.
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Various small projects for women like community welfare centres,
dispensaries, eye units, gyne wards, day care centres, industrial
home and women cooperative, darul falah.
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Enhancing women employment avenues.
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Increasing women literacy rate.
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Encouraging NGO’s to participate in the welfare programmes of women.
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Appointment of female judges in judiciary.
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Setting up of women’s development departments in the provinces.
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Up-gradation of women’s studies centres at five major universities
to full-fledged departments.
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Setting up of police stations for women (staffed exclusively by
women).
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A
human rights ministry was formed to watch and investigate into human
rights abuses, particularly those against women. Relief was provided
for victims of abuses through the newly created measures for victims
of abuses like legal aid centres and burn units in hospitals. A
National Committee on women was set up to articulate women’s
concerns with special emphasis on political representation and
violence against women.
