I just finished doing a national scan on VAW in Pakistan. It is heartening to note that a number of large scale initiatives are either underway or in the pipeline to directly or indirectly strengthen mechanisms to address VAW. That is what will work in the long term: prevent any such laws being passed in the first place.
I agree that quiet diplomatic pressure is needed, and indeed has been there. At the moment the National Commission on the Status of Women is actively reviewing these laws to suggest changes. The Council of Islamic Ideology, has, for the first time in two decades, admitted that certain provisions of the laws need to be reviewed to remove discrimination. I think working quietly behind the scenes to change the laws, and other discriminatory practices, as (ironically) this military government is doing, is more effective, given how the issue is exploited by vested extremist interests. At the same time the issue has to be made more visible: and this should be done by Pakistani civil society: with the support of international donors and friends. Mass media has been effectively used, but not enough. One needs to promote other voices in the 'Islamic' religious discourse (the laws themselves were the subject of debate and controversy among the ulema....); most of all there is a need to work with the judiciary. Yasmin Zaidi ***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support from ICAP*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe end-violence OR type: unsubscribe end-violence Archives of previous End-violence messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/end-violence/hypermail/
