Amending laws on paper not enough to ensure change: LHC CJ

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan Thursday said essential reforms were needed in social, economic and judicial sectors to foster creation of a socio-cultural and economic environment conducive to women's safety and autonomy. He was speaking at opening ceremony of a workshop on Gender-Based Violence held in Punjab Judicial Academy in collaboration with Asian Development Bank and Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

The chief justice said there must be a fundamental change in societal attitudes and particularly in men's perception of women's status. He pointed out that the courts were working in cases involving gender-based violence with an informed approach keeping in view all aspects of the matter.

He termed the violence against women a grave violation of human rights saying its impact spanned from immediate to long-term multiple physical, sexual and mental consequences for women and girls, including death. The chief justice said the violence left negative effects on women's general well-being and prevented them from fully participating in society. “Violence not only has negative consequences for women but also for their families, the community and country, he added.

He said the social protection of women was enshrined in Article 25 and 34 of the Constitution of Pakistan and the country was also a signatory of various regional and international treaties seeking to protect women's rights and promote gender equality.

Chief Justice Khan said a strategy to prevent violence must also promote nonviolent means to resolve conflict. He said passing laws to criminalise violence within family relationships was an important way to redefine the frontiers of acceptable behaviour.

However, he said, passing or amending laws on paper was not enough to ensure change, but their strict implementation could be a considerable asset in helping women to protect themselves from violence.