ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that the government is committed to protect women from all sorts of exploitation and marginalization, besides providing them with equal opportunities and an enabling environment to grow and excel in every sphere of life according to their capabilities.
The President, in his message on 105th Anniversary of the International Women’s Day to be observed on March 8, said in order to achieve goals in this regard, a strong partnership of the government and all relevant stakeholders, including women themselves, was required at every level.
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 President said the Day called 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,” he said.
President Mamnoon said this day provided an opportunity to praise the achievements of women and to highlight their needs and concerns at the national, regional and global levels.
He said the day was a reaffirmation of firm commitment towards protecting women’s rights and assisting them in every possible manner in leading a prosperous life as equal human beings.
He said the international and regional instruments including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), were 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 President said.
He called upon the civil society, non-governmental organizations, 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 endeavours 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,” the President said.
“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,” he remarked.
