Global Co-Chair WEP, chairperson BISP to work together for gender equality

Global Co-Chair WEP, chairperson BISP to work together for gender equality
APP58-07 ISLAMABAD: August 07 - Minister of State and Chairperson BISP Marvi Memon in a meeting with UN Women Advisor Ms. Elizabeth Broderick. APP

ISLAMABAD, Aug 7 (APP): Ms Elizabeth Broderick, Global Co-

Chair Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP), and Chairperson Benazir
Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon agreed for working
together on gender equality.
Elizabeth Broderick, who also hold office of United Nations
Global Compact and Special Advisor to Under-Secretary UN Women in a
meeting with Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP),
Marvi Memon, here on Monday discussed that there is strong need to
link women to speaking opportunities.
It would help raise their voices against discrimination and
violence, they opined and stated to work together for the promotion
of gender diverse environment, women empowerment and elimination of
domestic and family violence.
Ms. Elizabeth is founder of “Male Champions of Change”. She is
currently on visit to Pakistan to discuss efforts underway in
Australia, Pakistan and globally to advance women’s equality and to
engage private as well as public sector leaders to support and
propagate policies on gender equality.
It is pertinent to mention here that Marvi Memon is also
`Member World Bank Advisory Council on Gender and Development’,
During the meeting Ms Elizabeth said that gender equality is
one of the most significant societal and economic issues.
“We need more decent powerful men to step up beside women in
building a gender equal world”, she said.
If women are left out intentionally, then they are excluded by
the system unintentionally, that’s why we need to increase women
representation at every forum for sustainable development.
“To start with, we must champion gender equality in our
organizations if we want a visible change and increase of women in
leadership positions”, she further stated.
During the discussion on efforts in Pakistan for women
empowerment, Marvi Memon informed that BISP, by providing financial
assistance to 5.4 million most vulnerable households through women
head of families, contributed directly to the women empowerment in
the country.
She also mentioned 50,000 BISP Beneficiary Committees (BBCs)
across the country which is a real women empowerment tool. Through
these committees, poor and illiterate women are educated on gender
violence and are encouraged to stand up for their legal rights in
the family as well in the society.
The women are also trained to take care of themselves and
their families by training them on nutrition, health and gender
sensitive curriculum.
Marvi Memon’s landmark acid legislation also came under
discussion which provides protection to women against violence and
has increased prosecution rate for this heinous crime.
It was also discussed that issues of domestic and family
violence result into low contribution in the national economy and
highlighting these issues can add to voice and agency of women.

APP Services