National Commission on the Status of Women - Pakistan

The Government established a National Commission on the Status of Women in 2000. It has been tasked with:

• Reviewing and recommending the amendment of laws, rules and regulations that affect women's rights.
• Examining the policies for women's development and making recommendations for their effective impact and implications.
• Monitoring violence against women, especially domestic violence; and,
• Collaborating with NGOs at the national and international level.

The Commission also has a complaint resolution role.

The National Commission on the Status of Women Ordinance 2000 established the Commission and set out its procedures.

According to the Ordinance, the Commission shall consist of a Chairperson and between 10 and 20 members appointed by the Federal Government. Members shall be from persons "of integrity and standing having substantial experience in law, legislation and knowledge and standing on socio-economic and legal problems of women". The majority of members shall be women, including one member from each Province, Azad, Jammu and Kashmir, Northern Areas and at least one member from the minorities (Art. 3 (2)).

Article 4 stipulates the terms of office and conditions of service of the Chairperson and Members. The procedures and conditions for the removal of a Chairperson or a Member are set out in Article 5. The Ministry of Women Development Social Welfare and Special Education acts as Secretary of the Commission (Art. 6 (1)).

The functions of the Commission are to (Art. 7):

• examine the policies and programmes of the Government to empower women and promote gender equality, and make recommendations about them;
• review all laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of women and suggest repeal, amendment or new legislation essential to eliminate discrimination;
• monitor the mechanisms and institutional procedures for redressing the violation of women's rights, individual grievances, and facilities for social care, and undertake initiatives for better management and efficient provision of justice and social services through the concerned forums and authorities;
• encourage and sponsor research to generate information, analysis and studies relating to women and gender issues in order to provide knowledge and awareness for rational policies and strategic actions;
• develop and maintain interaction and dialogue with non-governmental organisations, experts and individuals in society and an active association with similar commissions and institutions in other countries for collaboration and action to achieve gender equality and development at the national, regional and international level, and;
• any function which may be assigned to it by the Federal Government.

Article 8 stipulates the conditions regulating the meetings of the Commission. Article 9 deals with the appointment of committees by the Commission on matters it thinks fit to refer to them. The Commission may also appoint advisers, consultants and experts having specialisation and expertise in the women-related fields and problems (Art. 10).

The Chairperson, Members and other staff of the Commission are deemed to be public servants under Article 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code (ACT XLV of 1860), (Art. 11).

A National Commission Fund is to be set up by the Federal Government (Art. 12). It shall consist of all sums paid by the Federal Government, any grants made by the Federal Government, Provisional Governments or local bodies and donations made by private individuals, national and international agencies. It is to be administered by the Commission and is to be used for:

• performing functions of the Commission;
• the establishment costs;
• the welfare of women, and;
• other activities that fall within the purview of the Commission.

Financial control is delegated to the Chairperson, who is appointed the Principal Accounting Officer of the Commission and in charge of the expenditure incurred against budget grant or grants made to the Fund. The Commission must also appoint an auditor who is a Chartered Accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants Ordinance 1961 (X of 1961) to carry out an audit of the Commission's accounts (Art. 13).

All executive authorities in Pakistan are required to assist the Commission in the performance if its functions (Art. 14).

An Executive Committee of the Commission is established which is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Commission. It is to be made up of the Chairperson, Secretary and three other Members to be elected by the Commission (Art. 15).

The Commission must prepare annual reports of its activities and other periodic or special reports as it deems necessary (Art. 16). Reports are to be submitted to the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and laid before the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).

The Commission may delegate all or any of its powers under the Ordinance to any of its members (Art. 17).

The Commission may also, with the approval of the Federal Government, make rules to facilitate the carrying out the aims of the Ordinance (Art. 18).