AS WRITTEN

WORLD SUMMIT FOR DEVELOPMENT

STATEMENT BY BEGUM SHAHNAZ WAZIR ALI
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN
MARCH 8, 1995


Gender Perspective: Enhancing the Participation of Women in Social Progress 
and Development.

 Mr. President, Ladies & Gentlemen,

 I come from a country where the "invisible hands" of women have always 
contributed towards the economic development of the nation. The critical 
role played by women in the movement for the independence of Pakistan and 
their continued participation, albeit limited at times, has convinced us 
that progress, social or economic, can only be achieved if women become 
part of the front-runners of any development activity.

 There is no contradiction in the fact that only 29 per cent of women are 
literate in a country led by a women Prime Minister but indicative of the 
realization in Pakistan that active participation of women in social 
progress and development is critical for the success of our society. An 
agriculture based economy, long years of dictatorship, particularly for 
others, equal access to education training, health, made dominance in 
decision making in economy in transition, discriminatory legislation have 
for years combined to create major impediments for the advancement and 
empowerment of women.

 Pakistan has gone through several phases of development interrupted by 
political upheavals. This made the struggle of our women a bigger 
challenge. However, Pakistani women have struggled for gender equity since 
the time of the country's inception. In a short life of 48 years, Pakistan 
has experienced two dictatorships. These periods were a definite set back 
to the achievements of women. In the name of Islam, the basic rights of 
women were curbed and it was at this time the women's movement became most 
organized and had a major impact on bringing the women's issues into the 
mainstream awareness. Despite the ups and downs of our political history, 
women have struggled to make their way into almost every profession.

 Media at times does not put forward a realistic picture of a country. It 
picks up the sensational and violent aspects. I would like to give you a 
feel of who Pakistani women are. They are active contributors to the 
society. They are represented in all walks of life. We have thousands of 
women doctors and nurses. Not only are women represented in the relatively 
traditional professions like homemakers, teachers and doctors but are now 
beginning to break the traditional barriers of the society and are being 
accepted as commercial pilots, cab drivers, stock brokers, industrialists, 
judges, entrepreneurs, editors and research scientists. These changes are 
still trends and yet have to become the norm, but they reflect the ability 
of the society to accept women in significant leadership role.

 The contribution of women in the fields of Agriculture and livestock, 
child rearing and life supporting activities at home are commendable.

 Pakistan is one of the few countries with a woman Prime Minister. This is 
not an example of acceptability; this is an example of choice. Pakistanis 
have elected Benazir Bhutto as their leader twice. In many western 
countries the barriers that inhibit the entry of women to the highest level 
leadership position still persist.

 In Pakistan the leadership of a woman Prime Minister itself has brought 
about a positive change. She is seen as a role model. Under the leadership 
of Benazir Bhutto, the Government is aware of the current issues faced by 
women and is committed to a positive change.

 The Government acknowledges the role of media in the development process 
and has ensured freedom of expression. The portrayal of women in the print 
and electronic media has certainly changed over the last 15 years. Women's 
issues are being discussed at all fora. Different points of views are being 
openly discussed. Social issues which are considered taboo are now being 
discussed on the national television.

 Violence in custody has been another form of abuse and degradation women 
have faced. To ensure physical safety and security for women in custody, 
the Government has set up women's Police Stations. In Pakistan, efforts in 
legal, educational and cultural sphere are yielding significant results. 
The Government of Pakistan has accorded high priority to enhancing the 
status of women by providing them with opportunities to participate in 
national life, on an equal footing with men.

 The Constitution of Pakistan declares that all citizens are equal and that 
there shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex. The Government of 
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is committed to amending and repealing all 
discriminatory laws.

 In order to initiate a process for sustained empowerment of women 10 per 
cent the seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan have been reserved for 
women. A percentage of government jobs have been allocated for women in 
addition to the jobs available through open competition. To protect the 
rights of women and girls, the Prime Minister has taken a personal interest 
in combatting violence against them. The personal determination by Prime 
Minister Bhutto at the bed side of a woman burnt by her husband was 
evidence of the seriousness with which the Government views such crimes.

 Pakistan has launched a massive and comprehensive programme to integrate 
women in the mainstream of national development. The Ministry of Women's 
Development is acting as a catalyst in various development projects 
directly affecting women. It has established five Committees on legal 
rights, legal aid, Katchi Abadis (slums)), jails and accidents, to promote 
progressive legislation on discrimination against women.

 However, a vast majority of women continue to face violation of their 
rights, violence, abject poverty and displacement. What is reported is just 
the tip of the iceberg. No reliable statistics are available which can give 
a full account of the enormity of the abuse to which women continue to be 
subjected.

Underdevelopment, poverty, hunger, disease, uncontrolled population growth 
are the factors which adversely affect the condition of women in the 
developing countries. Women and children are the most vulnerable to the 
adverse consequence of the structural adjustment programmes caused by 
reduction of government funding for health and education and withdrawal of 
subsidies for food, medical care and education, Diversion of resources from 
these areas affects women badly and directly.

 We, who, are gathered here cannot speak of social progress and development 
if we do not agree to join forces to grapple with these evils that afflict 
womenkind. Suffering women are not just a statistic but like you and me a 
mother, a wife and a child with broken dreams. The millions we spend here 
in the hope of a better future will only come to naught if women are not 
recognized as equal partners. We look for new hope in the year of the 
Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations.

 One more step in our attempt to ensure that women become an integral part 
of the implementation of the commitments made at the World Social Summit 
would be the Fourth Women's Conference. The strategic objectives and 
actions identified for the Platform of Action for the Women's Conference 
provide a workable framework for our future work. Pakistan believes that 
our efforts should be guided by three principles; First, the individual 
relationships should be viewed in the context of the societies they live 
in. This would eliminate the tendency to undertake piecemeal, fragmented 
efforts. Second, the Platform for Action should adopt a bottom up rather 
than a top down approach. The poor, dispossessed and disadvantaged women 
should be the starting point. Third, women should be made active 
participants in the and protect women's rights. The Pakistan Commission on 
the Status of Women has submitted 283 recommendations covering effective 
safeguards for women's rights, provision of health, education and 
employment to women, and integration of women of minorities in national 
life. These recommendations are being implemented by the Government.

 Seventy-two development projects, comprising 15,000 units, with an 
investment of Rs. 1.5 billion, have been operationalised. These projects 
encompass income generation, spread of literacy, technical know-how, 
vocational training and health care centres. A women's bank called the 
First Women Bank, with 23 branches in all provinces, is staffed and run 
exclusively by women. It has helped in providing credit to women, 
developing entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities and 
generating savings for them. With the assistance of foreign donors a number 
of development projects have been started for training and monitoring 
women's development programmes. The NGOs are receiving support of the 
Government for community development programmes, printing and publishing 
courses, legal aid cells, garment production and dispensaries.

 In line with the guidelines provided by the Commission on the Status of 
Women and the U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women, Pakistan has 
planned broad-based activities for participation in the Fourth World 
Conference on Women. The Ministry of Women's Development has been 
functioning as the national machinery for the implementation of various 
programmes. A National Committee has been set up which is addressing such 
issues as discriminatory laws, signing and ratification of the Convention 
on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, enhancement of 
representation of women, literacy campaign for women with the help of UNDP 
and UNICEF, community work and effective involvement of the NGOs with a 
view to mainstreaming women and creating employment for them.

 Violence against women remains a very serious problem. Physical, sexual or 
psychological violence against women is a by-product of the lower status 
accorded to women, discriminatory laws and poor enforcement of the existing 
laws. There has been some encouraging developments to combat violence 
against women. In a growing number of societies, violence against women is 
no more swept under the carpet. Public debates are being held at the 
national and international levels to devise ways and means to banish this 
menace. Once policy makers, both women and men become aware of the causes 
of violence in their societies, they can take steps to eliminate them. But 
if the state itself becomes an agent or systematic violence against women, 
the task of combating such violence becomes far more difficult. State-
sponsored violence against women is still a serious threat to the life, 
safety and dignity of women in some parts of the world.

 In order to ensure the emancipation and empowerment of women in future, a 
gender balanced effort to empower all the marginalised groups of society is 
needed where women's issues become a concern of the whole community and not 
just women.

 The present Government of Pakistan is committed to a supportive approach 
rather than a confrontational approach as far as the advancement of women 
in Pakistan is concerned. It has taken concrete steps and brought about 
visible changes. It realizes the challenges of a society which as gone 
through several political upheavals and is still going through 
transformation of the traditional systems. However, the Government is 
committed to do its best to support women's advancement in our country.

 Mr. President,

 I conclude with the hope that what we achieve here will be translated into 
action with the full participation of women. As without women there can be 
no real progress.

 I thank you.