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Former President Asif Ali Zardari has congratulated the women of the world in general and of Pakistan in particular for their struggle to put to end discrimination against them and called for broadening the scope of issues on which the perspectives of women must be taken into account.
“At a time when the nation is engaged in existential fight against militants it is critical to accommodate the perspectives of women constituting one half of the population on peace building and conflict resolution”, said the former President in a message on the eve of International Women Day being observed throughout the world today.
The women of Pakistan should also get united to raise their collective voice on issues of peace and security in the region which have long been seen largely from the prism of security rather than from the prism of welfare of our children, he said in his message.
The former President felicitated the women on “the great strides made by them in their forward march towards gender equality” and said “it was time for them to move forward, play a proactive role and make their voice heard on issues of security and peace building within the country and in the region”.
On this occasion I wish to reiterate the commitment of the Pakistan People’s Party to the emancipation of women and their protection from all kinds of exploitation and discrimination, he said.
The former President also denounced obscurantism, extremism and militant elements who seek to perpetuate discrimination against women in the name of religion and said that the Party will resist all attempts by extremists to stifle the voice of women.
He said that the PPP was guided by the vision of its great leaders Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto as well as the Constitution of Pakistan and it will never allow regressive elements to impose their anti-women agenda on the women of Pakistan.
“Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto believed that there was no human right more fundamental than equal rights for women. She signed the CEDAW despite opposition of obscurantist elements. Her policies continue to guide the Party. W will strive to further strengthen the structures created by her for women empowerment”.
The PPP calls for honoring the pledges made by Pakistan at the Beijing Conference on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for an end to discrimination against women. The Party also calls for increased women’s role in peace building in a conflict ridden country and in a strife torn region.
Recalling the far reaching legislations enacted by the previous coalition government of the PPP to ensure the protection of women from gender-based violence the former President also urged the government to keep up the momentum generated by those policies.
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