Tuesday, September 08, 2009

WOMEN-PAKISTAN: Domestic Violence Bill Draws Mixed Reactions

By Zofeen Ebrahim, Inter Press Service News

KARACHI, Sep 7 (IPS) – A historic bill seeking to punish domestic abuse still raises doubts about its ability to meet the goal it sets out to do: end violence against women.

That is assuming the bill, which was approved by the National Assembly on Aug. 4, will be passed by the Senate to make it a law.

“Just as the proceedings began before the bill was put to a vote, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani got up to say his government supported the bill as it fell under their party manifesto’s purview,” said Yasmeen Rehman, a member of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, who sponsored the bill. “I was elated.”

Civil society groups advocating protection of women against all forms of violence dubbed the passage a “historic move”.

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