PAKISTAN: Women Participation in Parliamentary Affairs Must Progress: Dr Wyatt

Dr Marilyn Wyatt, wife of US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron P.Munter on Saturday appreciated the legislation done by Pakistan's parliament especially related to women for their empowerment and to give them due rights and for their protection.

She was addressing the inaugural session of a training workshop being organized under Women's Political Empowerment Project with the cooperation and assistance of Embassy of United States to conduct campaign skill training for female politicians and potential candidates from all political parties.

She appreciated the women for their courage to come to the politics and asked them to work to ensure that young women get the education and the confidence they need to aspire to and serve in government.

Dr Wyatt said while 2011 was very good year for the women of Pakistan as during this year, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed laws stiffening the punishment for acid attacks on women and punishing such practices as marrying off young girls to settle tribal disputes, there was still much to do. She also appreciated the legislation from the parliament formation of National Commission on Women.

She lauded the efforts of women for contributing in all the spheres of life in Pakistan. She said despite over 50 percent population, the women had less than 20 percent share in the parliaments and this is even less in United States.

Dr.Wyatt however appreciated the measures taken by Pakistan where the women had more share as compared to other countries. She said however, there is much more room for the women to play more active role in parliamentary activities.

She especially quoted the saying of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that without active participation of women real progress can not be achieved.

Without mentioning the name of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Dr Wyatt said its a great honour for women of Pakistan that the country was headed by a women adding that it is yet no possible that United States had any women President.

She said the women should also be part of the peace process adding that the women in Pakistan also played very role in the relief measures in natural disasters.

Highlighting the importance of right of vote for women, she said, there should be more awareness and education for encouraging the women to use their right of vote.

Appreciating the efforts to arrange the training workshop, Dr. Wyatt said it will improve the skill and awareness among the women to play more active role in parliament.

Earlier, Hasseb Ahmed Kayani, Project Director, Women's Political Empowerment Project speaking on the occasion highlighted the importance of the training workshop.

He said over 100 female politicians and over 1000 emerging young women will be trained under this series of workshop so that the women should be aware of their rights before the next general elections.

The workshop being conducted with the support from US Department of State, will train the participants in such skills as mobilizing voters, effective public speaking and dealing with the media effectively.