Kashmala for implementation of law against sexual harassment
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Information of PML (Like Minded), Kashmala Tariq has called for strict implementation of Sexual Harassment Act at work places recently passed by the parliament.
“Women play crucial role in the country’s development and the women-related legislation including the recent bill against sexual harassment of women at work places should be enforced in letter and spirit to make environment for women safe and secure”, she said while talking to APP.
She said the legislation would give confidence to the women living in patriarchal society, as women would have sense of security while working at male-dominated offices.
Replying to a question, she stressed the need for allocation of 30 percent job quota to women in both private and public sector to encourage the 51 percent of society. It would also encourage parents to provide equal level of education to their children without any discrimination to women. Dispelling the impression that legislation may be misused for settling personal scores, Kashmala said, “let this act be implemented first”.
She said such concerns always were raised by male colleagues well before implementation of any women empowerment-oriented law. If any flaws in the law were found at some stage these could be rectified. Answering another question, she said that the absence of minister for women development was undermining the government’s initiatives for women empowerment besides affecting the ministry’s projects.
“I don’t know why minister is not appointed for the ministry of women development.” To a question, she said women empowerment-related initiatives were usually hamstrung by lack of awareness. Thus, she said, there was a need to put in place regular awareness raising activities, especially by the Ministry of Women Development, to make women development process a complete success.
“Most of the women’s welfare steps including projects of the ministry of women development cannot achieve targets owing to lack of knowledge among women,” she observed.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:11/16/2009
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