By: Alisha Abid The World Ambassador ______ ISLAMABAD: Ms. Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director, accompanied by UN Women Country Representative Mr. Jamshed Qazi, called on the Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, today during her visit to Pakistan. The courtesy meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Pakistan’s ongoing initiatives to promote gender equality and empower women across all sectors of society. During the meeting, the Minister highlighted Pakistan’s comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to gender equality, emphasizing achievements through constitutional guarantees, international commitments, legislative reforms and policy frameworks. He reaffirmed the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring women’s full participation in national life while protecting them from discrimination, violence, and economic exclusion.

The Minister also underscored the critical role of national institutions including the Ministry of Human Rights, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), social welfare centers and helpline 1099 in safeguarding women’s rights and providing legal, social and financial protection. Ms. Christine Arab applauded legislative milestones such as laws against child marriage, the implementation of gender policies, technology-enabled measures addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and the development of the National Gender Data Portal. The discussion also highlighted key policy initiatives, including the National Gender Policy Framework and the National Policy on Ending Violence Against Women, developed with UN Women’s support to address all forms of violence. The Minister also shared progress on the National Strategy for Male Engagement, which encourages men and boys to become active allies in preventing GBV.

Ms. Arab warmly commended Pakistan’s proactive engagement in women’s legislation and its active participation in international frameworks, including CEDAW, the Universal Periodic Review and the Beijing Platform for Action. She praised the government’s leadership and dedication to advancing women’s rights and fostering inclusive development. Both parties emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration to overcome remaining challenges, particularly in financial empowerment, legal protection, and social participation. The Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with UN Women and other international partners to accelerate progress toward gender equality. Ms. Arab assured continued support from the international community and applauded Pakistan’s dedication to building an equitable, inclusive, and thriving society where women can reach their full potential.