ISLAMABAD: Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson has said Pakistan has shown remarkable progress in the domain of gender equality by introducing a legal framework, however, stressed implementation is the key to ensure women’s emancipation.
“It is very important for Pakistan and all other countries to enforce the rule of law in supporting the constitutional rights on equality of women and girls,” Adamson told the Media, on the sidelines of an event here late Saturday night.
High Commissioner Adamson expressed satisfaction that Pakistan continued making progress either on new legislation or reforming the pre-existing ones, both at federal and provincial levels.
Implementation of laws that are adopted according to national policies and commitments encourage right steps towards gender balance, she added.
Adamson stressed that it was important for women and girls to be aware of the legislation that protected their rights, besides sensitizing the members of family and society.
“Equally accessible education, a level playing field, and a ‘human rights attitude’ towards women and girls are essential for their emancipation,” she said when asked which areas still needed to be addressed to ensure gender balance.
She said the participation of women in national mainstream was crucial to strengthen a country’s economy.
“If we don’t mobilize half of our population to be able to contribute their intellectual strength, it will be a big loss to our economies,” she said.
Adamson said for a nation, having a greater number of women coming into public office and stepping up beside men to be decision makers was a critical pathway towards equality.
Pakistan already has much progress to celebrate in this regard for being the first nation in the Muslim world with democratic governance to have a woman prime minister, she added.
She emphasized that national institutions including the police force, diplomatic corps, parliament and judiciary needed to mirror gender parity in view of fifty percent population of women.
She termed as significant to engage men in achieving equality for women and girls and mentioned the contribution of Male Champions of Change Pakistan chapter in raising awareness in society about gender equality.
