Women’s Rights Is Human Rights
By Dr Ghulam M. Haniff
St. Cloud , Minnesota
On the occasion of International Women’s Day it behooves us to examine the issue of women’s rights in Pakistan. Observing that event at the United Nations the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that “women’s rights is human rights” and ought to be expanded throughout the world.
On the issue of rights Pakistan ought to be recognized for a reform program launched by Pervez Musharraf to extend the participation of women in various aspects of national life. Unfortunately, the measure has floundered a bit under Asif Ali Zardari though the changes in amendments to the Constitution would likely rectify the shortcomings.
Musharraf’s reform mandated that women’s membership be set at 33.33 percent in the local councils and 17.50 in the national parliament. The result of the reform has been stunning. Though in reality females had already started to make their presence felt in national and provincial legislatures as well as in the society through various non-governmental organizations.
In the 2008 democratic elections the membership of women greatly increased in the parliament hitting the mark of 17.00 percentage points. Today, they occupy 60 seats in the National Assembly in Islamabad. Remarkably, one of them, Fehmida Mirza, was chosen to be the speaker of the parliament, the first woman to be placed in that position. She ran against a well-established businessman, Israr Tareen, but defeated him by a margin of almost two to one.
Women’s marginalization and subservience in the society is due to the entrenched structures of feudalism and its powerful supporters in the Parliament. Regrettably, they have used an antiquated interpretation of Islam, just like Saudi Arabia, to keep women powerless and reigned in. However, there are many mullahs who see males and females as equals, the essential message in the Holy Qur’an, and would favor their liberation. Women rapidly became empowered in countries in which feudalistic social structures were demolished.
As women’s traditional status was undergoing transformation several instances of female mistreatment received wide publicity throughout the world. Owing to their timely exposure these contributed to the strengthening of the demand for women’s empowerment in the country.
The most notorious case was the gang raping of Mukhtaran Mai in her native village under the guidance of the village council. She was openly paraded naked in broad daylight, an intensely humiliating experience. It is hard to imagine how such cruelty could be inflicted on an individual in the modern world. Her tormentors were let go free until the intervention of Pervez Musharraf through the pressure of world public opinion. Ultimately, she received the justice due and the culprits are in prison today.
The other incident was the lashing of a 17-year-old by the Taliban religious authorities in Swat. The video of the beating was shown globally which generated considerable revulsion worldwide. Virtually overnight a massive shift in public opinion forced the military to intervene against the Taliban in Pakistan.
In the last few years opportunity for women has begun to open up in many fields. This advancement has coincided with women’s progress in other major nations of South Asia. In almost all of them Hillary Clinton sees the step forward as “contributing directly to the strengthening of human rights throughout the global society.”
Pakistan is taking bold steps in tandem with India. However, Indian women have forged ahead in many sectors including civic affairs, non-governmental organizations and education more vigorously than in any of the nations in the region. The Indian attempt is well-established. In fact, India has a record of large-scale reforms in higher education, feudalism, nobility and titles, and the pursuit of industrial policies.
Indian women have flocked to universities in greater numbers and are now important players in the skilled labor market. One Indian woman was even recruited as an astronaut by NASA and placed on a mission to the outer space.
In Pakistan too women are being educated though males are clearly the priority. However, females currently at universities are close to being almost half of the student population. They stand to make major contributions. Their future inclusion in the labor market would be immensely beneficial to the nation.
Women constitute half the population of Pakistan. Their productive skills in the national economy are badly needed. The country can readily increase its national income several folds by the employment of women in various productive capacities. Women can be trained to acquire skills in all types of activities ranging from the top leadership of the nation to managing businesses and professions and to policing the public.
When Hillary Clinton visited Pakistan she was most impressed by the female students with their sharp, highly focused questions. Later, she pointed out that she would like them to assume leadership positions in science, economy, industry and the government. These would substantially boost the nation in production, enhance its strength, and make Pakistan a modern nation.
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