Today we are celebrating 105th Anniversary of the International Women’s Day. The theme of the Day “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality” reflects on how to build momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It equally focuses on new and existing commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s rights.
The Day is calling upon the world community to take concrete steps for implementation of the SDGs in letter and spirit and to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, gender-balanced leadership and develop more inclusive and flexible cultures for women. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. This day provides an opportunity to praise the achievements of women and to highlight their needs and concerns at the national, regional and global level. The day is a reaffirmation of our firm commitment towards protecting women’s rights and assisting them in every possible manner in leading a prosperous life as equal human beings.
The international and regional instruments including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) are being implemented in their entirety. A number of steps including pro-women legislation and efforts aimed at socio-economic betterment and empowerment of the women clearly reflect the commitment of the state towards the cause of the women and assuring gender parity.
The Government of Pakistan is committed to protect the women from all sorts of exploitation and marginalization and at the same time is dedicated to provide them with equal opportunities and an enabling environment where they are able to grow and excel in every sphere of life according to their capabilities. To achieve our goals in this regard, a strong partnership of the Government and all relevant stakeholders including women themselves is required at every level.
I, therefore, call upon the civil society, NGOs, volunteers, philanthropists, international development partners, media, corporate sector and particularly the women themselves to come forward and play their role in complementing Government’s efforts towards this noble cause.
We reiterate our pledge towards gender parity, promotion and protection of women’s rights in the country. I appreciate national and international bodies and other organizations for their endeavors in supplementing the Government’s efforts to create conducive environment for the women in the country. I hope that they will continue pursuing this important mission with the same zeal and spirit.
I am confident that with our continued focus on the issues of the women, we would be able to contribute significantly towards ameliorating their plight and giving them a better and brighter future.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST OR TELECAST BEFORE 8th March, 2016
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