UNDP ROVIDES RS29.3M GRANT FOR GENDER EQUALITY

June 15, 2004 – (PakistanLink) UNDP and the Government of Pakistan have signed a project of Rs. 29.3 million aimed at strengthening the organizational capacity of the National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW).

The project aims to help the NCSW in policy analysis, research and advocacy to enable it to implement its mandate as a policy review and recommending body in the area of gender equality. UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Onder Yucer, NCSW Chairperson, Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi, and Section Officer Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Mr. Hamad Shamimi, participated in the joint signing ceremony. Mr. Harek Aspenes, First Secretary, Norwegian Embassy, on behalf of contributing donor NORAD, was also present on the occasion.

Mr. Yucer termed the signing of the project an “excellent opportunity for us to analyze and examine the status of women in the country in a thorough and detailed manner.” He suggested that poverty reduction and democratic governance were possible only when women were empowered, informed and when their rights were guaranteed. Justice Rizvi expressed her gratitude to UNDP, NORAD and relevant Ministries for their support to the Commission and suggested that the project signaled another step towards empowerment of women.

The project, entitled “Institutional Strengthening of the National Commission on Status of Women”, aims to help the NCSW achieve its objective of the emancipation of women, equalization of opportunities and socio-economic conditions amongst women and men and elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

The project intends to ensure that Pakistan’s National Action Plan for the advancement of women is jointly adopted, implemented and monitored by all tiers of the government and civil society according to time-bound goals. NCSW was set up in 2000 in response to the demands of women from a cross section society for an independent body that could review and recommend policies related to gender-based problems and issues.

The project also intends to help the Commission set up and develop the capacity of its Research, Policy and Advocacy Units which will undertake organized research on policy issues, recommend gender-responsive policy proposals and develop a manageable advocacy plan to create heightened awareness among the public on the inalienable rights of women.

It aims to enhance the knowledge and capacity of individual NCSW members to address gender issues at all levels of governance. NCSW will fortify its policy advocacy through networking with the government, civil society, media and private sector.

The project will provide support to the Commission in the publication, dissemination and propagation of its research and studies, which will review existing laws and public policy from a gender standpoint. Through its Gender Support Programme (GSP), UNDP will also assist and coordinate the efforts of donors and government agencies in extending technical and financial assistance to the Commission.

From: http://www.pakistanlink.com/headlines/June04/15/05.html