Most women-headed households not documented during military operations
December 30, 2010
Islamabad
Most of the women-headed households were not counted and documented during earthquake 2005 and the military operation in Swat, Malakand and other areas.
The argument made part of a discussion held in a working group meeting organised by Aurat Foundation to discuss the ‘Policy Draft on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), with Special Focus on Women’ with the legal experts, human rights activists and concerned citizens.
The participants said that in Pakistan, internally displaced persons (IDPs) have not been accorded a special place in legal system. “There are only two laws, which deal with the IDPs, ‘The Displaced Persons Settlement Act (1958)’ and ‘The Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act (1958). Both these laws address the peoples displaced because of the partition of sub-continent,” they pointed out.
While giving a situational analysis and historical perspective of the IDPs and causes behind the displacement, lecturer, Fatima Jinah Women University Salman Hyder said that mega development projects like dams, disasters and national conflicts are among the major reason behind the displacement of people from their homes.
He categorically stated that the affect of displacement is gender specific and women are major sufferer during the displacement. “Apart from economic sufferings, women also faced gender-based violence, trafficking and specific health issues,” he said.
While reviewing the international definitions of IDPs, specialist in gender and law, Sadia Mumtaz, informed the participants that the international definitions do not cover the persons displaced due to Blasphemy Law and due to landmines at the borders between India and Pakistan. On internally displaced persons, she said that Pakistan has signed international instruments including the UN Guiding Principles on International Displacement, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and International Criminal Law (ICL). She pointed out that the government of Pakistan, according to the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), was bound to inform the concerned peoples in time about the military operation in Swat, Malakand and other areas, the government, however, terribly failed to do so, and hence violated the international law.
Advocate High Court and former Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan Shah Khawar said that in 1973’s Constitution, chapter of Principal of Policy’ addresses the needs and rights of citizens including shelter. Chief Operating Officer Aurat Foundation Naeem Mirza in his closing remarks suggested that the government shall set up a national commission on the internally displaced persons.
In order to take this whole process of policy on IDPs, he also suggested to establish a working group comprising the stakeholders including the concerned government department, law experts and NGOs like SPO and SUNGI, which have been active in dealing with the issues of persons displaced during the 2005 earthquake and military operation in Swat and other areas.
Earlier, Sarwat Wazir from Aurat Foundation gave a brief presentation on IDPs and its gender dimensions and Aurat Foundation National Coordinator Shabana Nayyar Kiani moderated the meeting.
Most of the women-headed households were not counted and documented during earthquake 2005 and the military operation in Swat, Malakand and other areas.
The argument made part of a discussion held in a working group meeting organised by Aurat Foundation to discuss the ‘Policy Draft on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), with Special Focus on Women’ with the legal experts, human rights activists and concerned citizens.
The participants said that in Pakistan, internally displaced persons (IDPs) have not been accorded a special place in legal system. “There are only two laws, which deal with the IDPs, ‘The Displaced Persons Settlement Act (1958)’ and ‘The Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act (1958). Both these laws address the peoples displaced because of the partition of sub-continent,” they pointed out.
While giving a situational analysis and historical perspective of the IDPs and causes behind the displacement, lecturer, Fatima Jinah Women University Salman Hyder said that mega development projects like dams, disasters and national conflicts are among the major reason behind the displacement of people from their homes.
He categorically stated that the affect of displacement is gender specific and women are major sufferer during the displacement. “Apart from economic sufferings, women also faced gender-based violence, trafficking and specific health issues,” he said.
While reviewing the international definitions of IDPs, specialist in gender and law, Sadia Mumtaz, informed the participants that the international definitions do not cover the persons displaced due to Blasphemy Law and due to landmines at the borders between India and Pakistan. On internally displaced persons, she said that Pakistan has signed international instruments including the UN Guiding Principles on International Displacement, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), International Human Rights Law (IHRL) and International Criminal Law (ICL). She pointed out that the government of Pakistan, according to the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), was bound to inform the concerned peoples in time about the military operation in Swat, Malakand and other areas, the government, however, terribly failed to do so, and hence violated the international law.
Advocate High Court and former Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan Shah Khawar said that in 1973’s Constitution, chapter of Principal of Policy’ addresses the needs and rights of citizens including shelter. Chief Operating Officer Aurat Foundation Naeem Mirza in his closing remarks suggested that the government shall set up a national commission on the internally displaced persons.
In order to take this whole process of policy on IDPs, he also suggested to establish a working group comprising the stakeholders including the concerned government department, law experts and NGOs like SPO and SUNGI, which have been active in dealing with the issues of persons displaced during the 2005 earthquake and military operation in Swat and other areas.
Earlier, Sarwat Wazir from Aurat Foundation gave a brief presentation on IDPs and its gender dimensions and Aurat Foundation National Coordinator Shabana Nayyar Kiani moderated the meeting.
