The Sindh Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with AWAZ Foundation Pakistan and the National Advocacy for Rights of Innocent (NARI) Foundation, organized a Provincial Advocacy Forum for the Empowerment of Women Agriculture Workers of Sindh.
Justice (R) Arshad Noor Khan, Member Judicial of the Sindh Human Rights Commission, addressed the crucial topic of labor laws for women in agriculture during the forum. He emphasized the importance of not only creating but also enforcing laws related to women workers to ensure their protection and empowerment.
Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission, shared valuable insights at the forum. He highlighted the SHRC's focus on the promotion and protection of human rights, noting recent research into the legal aid mechanism in Sindh. The scope of legal aid has expanded to include labor and domestic violence, moving beyond its initial focus on inmates.
Detho discussed the SHRC's efforts to empower people by communicating with various authorities and developing a Bench Book for Labor Laws to assist judges. The SHRC has also trained judicial magistrates and police inspectors on laws such as the Bonded Labour Abolition Act 2015 and child labor regulations.
He mentioned that the draft rules for the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act 2019 have been submitted to the Law Department and stressed the need for technical expert consultation. The SHRC has also reviewed GSP+ schemes and worked on promoting rights for women in agriculture.
The exchange of ideas and perspectives at the forum underscored a collective commitment to advocating for policy changes that benefit women agricultural workers. Contributions from various stakeholders demonstrated a united effort toward their empowerment.
