Islamabad: On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Senate of Pakistan unanimously passed a landmark resolution, tabled by Senator Sherry Rehman, calling for urgent and accelerated measures to close Pakistan's widening gender gap. The resolution recommending the government takes accelerated measures to ensure and enhance women's economic inclusion.
The resolution called for designing and building infrastructure that meets the needs of women by improving transport safety, workplace child facilities and access to digital and financial resources to support their economic participation.
The resolution demanded that women should be provided with quality education and training by eliminating barriers to schooling and promoting literacy programs.
The resolution stated that women should be involved in sustainable agriculture and food security by equipping them with technical training and ensuring land rights and access to agriculture financing to enhance their role in climate resilience and food sustainability.
The resolution said it must be ensured that women have the right to make healthy choices and not forced to marry while they are underage. It stressed that women should be helped in making informed decisions about their health by reforming healthcare policies, ensuring access to reproductive health services and prioritizing mental and maternal healthcare.
The resolution called for ensuring women's access to legal rights and action against gender-based violence and sexual harassment in the workplace.
It demanded elevating participation of women in sports by increasing investment in female athletes.
The house also called upon all stakeholders including the government, civil society organizations and private sector to join hands in the collective pursuit of gender equality and women empowerment.
Senator Sherry Rehman stressed that despite women comprising nearly 49.2% of Pakistan's population, only 22.7% are in the mainstream workforce, while millions remain invisible in economic policies, working for no wages or half wages. "From around 72% women carrying household water especially in rural areas to women running the vast undocumented economy of care, women's contributions remain unrecognized, even as they form the backbone of our society."
Senator Rehman underscored the alarming rise in gender-based violence cases citing the Law and Justice Commission Report of Pakistan, ' In 2023, 48,395 new GBV cases were registered, adding to an initial backlog of 21,891 cases.By year-end, only 30,631 cases were resolved, leaving an outstanding backlog of 39,655 cases-an 81% increase in pending cases. In Punjab, GBV case pendency more than doubled, reflecting a severe failure in the justice system.'
"Every two minutes, a mother dies while giving birth. In every third household, a woman faces physical violence. This is the one SDG that is backsliding not just in Pakistan, but everywhere.
Sherry Rehman said we need to take a hard look at gender-based violence and how even laws remain largely unenforced, while access to justice is out of reach for most survivors," she added.
In her speech after the resolution Senator Sherry Rehman emphasized that "violence behind closed doors is rising all across Pakistan and across all classes, including in the so called educated and classes. Patriarchal attitudes persist across the social divide, which reinforces women's status as secondary at best and chattel at worst. There are examples littered everywhere in plain sight. Violence against women will naturally rise when there is an elite consensus in a country where private clubs like Sindh and Punjab clubs don't allow women full membership and voting rights, which is totally against the constitution. This is shocking and condemnable. What is worse is that people are still lining up to become members of such institutions while giving lip service to women's rights. I appreciate the PPP because it does not just give women token positions."
Senator Sherry Rehman also condemned the failure to pass legislation banning child marriage, despite committee-level approval of a bill that would raise the legal marriage age to 18. 'This bill died in the National Assembly, like so many other attempts to give women their basic rights. Why do we continue to deny young girls the right to a future?'
While the Senate resolution called for immediate government action to strengthen financial inclusion for women, expanding access to credit, business resources, and entrepreneurship opportunities, she said it women were still far behind in economic or financial inclusion.
The Resolution enjoined legal protections for women and girls, ensuring swift prosecution of crimes against women, including political victimisation.
It sought the implementation of workplace protections against harassment and ensure fair wages and career advancement opportunities. Women's leadership, education, and political participation opportunities were still way behind their needs.
She asked for exponential improvement in infrastructure for supporting women, including safe transport, workplace childcare, and digital access.
Senator Rehman urged the government, civil society, private sector, and media to unite in the fight for gender equality, aligning with the UN's 69th Commission on the Status of Women's priority of economic inclusion.
"This is not just a women's issue-it is a national crisis. A country that sidelines half of its population cannot prosper. Pakistan's future depends on whether we give our women the tools, the rights, and the respect they deserve," she concluded.
The unanimous passage of this resolution marks a critical step forward, but Senator Rehman emphasized that without immediate and decisive action, gender inequality will continue to deepen, with devastating consequences for Pakistan's economy and society.
At the outset, newly elected Senator Asad Qasim took oath of office. Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani administered the oath. The house has now been adjourned to meet again on Tuesday at 11:30.