Faisalabad: November 29, 2014. (PCP) The government must approve legislation to prevent domestic violence, enforced conversion and violence perpetuated by the state machinery to make these acts punishable offence. The government must protect all workers from exploitation, violence and bondage, and regularize most unprivileged members of society engaged in informal sectors including; domestic workers and home-based workers for their empowerment. This was demanded by the women rights advocates during a media forum held at Faisalabad on 25th November 2014 under the banner of the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) and Pakistan Gender Coalition (PGC) to mark international day for the elimination of violence against women. Speaking on the occasion, the director of the AWAM, Nazia Sardar said, “The government must prioritize the adoption of policy and preparation of a plan of action for the recognition of unregistered women workers engaged in informal sectors as part of labour force, and ratify ILO convention No. 177 that deals with home-based workers and ILO Convention No. 189 that deals with domestic workers, and ensure its proper implementation so as to guarantee women’s access to social security benefits.” “The government must adopt national policy and strategy to end violence against women and girls, from prevention to rehabilitation phases, at the national, provincial and district levels. The federal and provincial governments must enforce existing pro-women laws and pass pending women friendly legislation such as; Domestic Violence Bill, Comprehensive Acid and Burn Crime Bill, Early and Forced Marriages Bill, the Reproductive Health Rights Bill, the Home-Based Women Workers Social Protection Bill,” she demanded. A women rights activist, Shazia George said, “Negative attitudes and limited access to public spaces consign women especially women with disabilities within the four walls of house. A patriarchal society does not allow women with disabilities to come out of their houses and work. Even this attitude makes a hostile environment for them at home and in the society, which demoralizes them as they feel being left out." “The government must strengthen the criminal justice system through reforming the rules and procedures around police investigation, and sensitizing the law enforcing agencies on dealing with cases of violence against females. The government must take strict measures to eliminate unjust and traditional modes of legal redress “adjudication” councils like ‘jirgas’ and ‘panchayats’, whose judgments have no legal standing, and repeal the ‘Qisas and Diyat’ law, resulting in impunity to the perpetrators of honour killings, through compensation and settlement,” she demanded. A human rights activist, Naseem Anthony said, “The conservative values and patriarchal social system is the base of domestic violence, which is considered acceptable and integral part of the culture in Pakistan. The violence in the domestic sphere is objectionable, but most women do not speak up against it, as it is believed to be a family matter which can be resolved behind closed doors. The government needs to take the issue of domestic violence seriously and approve legislation to impose strict penalties on those who subject women to violence.” “Domestic Workers are exploited at the hands of their employers for not having the status of worker in labor codes of Pakistan. The result is that they suffer discrimination in terms of low wages, additional working hours and harassment at the workplace. The lack of visibility greatly increases the potential for exploitation and abuse of such workers, so there are a steep increase in incidents of violence on domestic workers particularly children by their employers. The government must recognize them as workers and introduce laws to protect their rights,” he added. A lawyer, Hashmat Barkat said, “The females from the minority communities are soft targets; therefore they are often abducted, forcibly converted and brought to the wedlock without their consent, and their families are left with little recourse in the face of indifferent government authorities. The government must pass legislation against enforced conversion; embark on clear initiatives directed towards respecting religious diversity in real terms. The abducted girl must be kept at a neutral place to keep her away from any religion specific indoctrination, and before a court decision as to whether she converted by will or coercion.” “It is sad that the forces responsible for protecting citizens are also sometimes found involved in gender based violence particularly; in the jails and shelter homes, therefore the government must pass and enforce a legislation banning and penalizing the torture perpetrated or condoned by the state machinery on detainees, and holding the perpetrators of torture accountable without any impunity,” he added. A women rights activist, Amna Ehsan said, “Violence is a gross violation of human rights, but regrettably there is a general tolerance of gender-based violence, therefore the majority of people do not recognize its many forms as a crime in Pakistan, but rather consider it an integral part of the culture and the fate of women. When the state fails to prosecute the perpetrators of violence, it not only encourages further abuse, but government’s inaction gives the impression that male violence against females is acceptable.” A lawyer, Ayesha Rafiq said, “Violence against women is more problematic in Pakistan, as the existing monitoring system has loopholes, therefore it doesn’t address the issue in an effective manner. Alongside legislation to deal with various forms of violence against women, the government must take substantive measure to devise an efficient monitoring system for strict implementation of laws, and must train forces responsible for the implementation of laws protecting vulnerable groups.”