‘Every Woman Treaty’ launched

Islamabad : In connection with International Women’s Day, 15 women’s rights activists launched the Pakistan chapter of the “Every Woman Treaty” campaign, a global treaty to combat the worldwide pandemic of violence against women and girls.

Current agreements, such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), have spotlighted the issue of gender-based violence and set forth human rights principles to which signatories aspire. Building on and complementing such agreements, the Every Woman Treaty would, for the first time on a global level, make preventing violence against women and girls a legal mandate.

Notable activists in attendance included Simi Kamal, Benazir Jatoi, Valerie Khan, Nayab Ali, Daanika Kamal and Bilquis Tahira. “Existing legal frameworks have recognized that addressing violence against women is urgent and necessary,” said Simi Kamal, a social development specialist in Pakistan and member of Every Woman Treaty’s Steering Committee. “The emerging worldwide recognition of the reality and pervasiveness of sexual, mental, and physical abuse has placed this vital human rights issue at the top of global leaders' agendas. The next step is ending it with a global treaty.”

Cofounded in 2013, Every Woman Treaty is a non-governmental organization (NGO) representing more than 1,700 women's rights advocates, including 840 organizations, in 128 countries. The treaty aims to combat violence against women through five interventions, including legal reform; training and accountability for police, judges, doctors, and nurses; violence prevention education and campaigns; services for survivors; and funding. Every Woman Treaty invites women and men to join the global call at everywoman.org, and help create a safer world for women and girls.