The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. It is described as an international bill of rights for women.
Yesterday, Pakistan submitted it 5th periodic report to the CEDAW committee at the 75th session of UN Convention against Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The submission was followed by a review of Pakistan’s obligations under the Convention.
Pakistan ratified CEDAW on 12th April 1996. with a declaration making the compliance subject to its Constitution and a reservation under article 29 para 1.
CEDAW raised a question on the legitimacy of alternative ways of dispute resolutions other than the ones on judicial and legal grounds, yet, they are practised in Pakistan. In actuality, they are customary practices that usually expect women to be compromising & flexible.
Rabiya Javeri, Federal Secretary for Human Rights, highlights the passing of maternity and paternity leave bill in Senate in the opening statement at CEDAW committee, however, it’s fate at NA is not discussed. Pakistan is still a long way from parental leave and benefits. Moreover, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Human Rights Mr Malik Kamran Azam Khan Rajar stated that under Article 26 of Constitution of Pakistan state is empowered to provide special measures for women and children. Article 34 guarantees full participation of women in all spheres of national life. I am super glad while writing that the Government of Pakistan has become the first country in the world to include a legally recognized Transgender woman, Ms Aisha Mughal, in its National Delegation at the UN CEDAW Committee in Geneva, Switzerland
Pakistan making history by having the first transgender woman as part of the state delegation for #CEDAWPak.
