NCSW Web Site is Being Upgraded. We apologies for any inconvenience cause. Thank You

Message from Chairperson: National Commission on the status of Women (NCW) strives to fulfill the promise of a life of dignity and justice to women of Pakistan. Commission’s mandate is to address the issues that affect the lives of women adversely by reviewing and analyzing the Read More.

About NCSW

The Pakistan Women's Rights Committee: The next exercise with a wider scope was the setting up of the Pakistan Women's Rights Committee in 1975. Chaired by Mr. Yahya Bakhtiar, then Attorney-General of Pakistan, the Committee was asked for legal and other recommendations to improve the social status and economic conditions of women and to make legal remedies for women is such matters as obtaining maintenance, custody of children, etc, easier and speedier.

Pakistan Commission on the Status of Women: In 1983 a Pakistan Commission on the Status of Women was set up for a specified period. The Commission was asked to ascertain both the rights and responsibilities of women in Islamic society, to suggest how those rights could be safeguarded and how women themselves could help in eradicating ignorance, social evils, poverty and disease, and to identify measures that could be taken to provide education, health and employment opportunities to women.

The Commission of Inquiry for Women: In 1994, The commission of Inquiry for Women was set up with following terms of reference:

  1. To review all the existing laws which are discriminatory to women or affect their rights being equal citizens of Pakistan;

  2. To suggest amendments in the existing laws or rules for bringing these laws and rules in accordance with the injunctions of Islam as enshrined in the Holy Quran and Sunnah;

  3. To propose remedial measures whether through legislation or otherwise for improving the conditions of womenfolk of Pakistan; and

  4. To suggest any other measures as the Commission may deem appropriate in furtherance of aforesaid objectives

The Commission in its report published in 1997 gave several recommendations which are most comprehensive and almost covers all the recommendations submitted by the previous Commissions.

National Commission on the Status of Women: The recommendations for a permanent commission on the status of women have been made in almost every national report relating to women. There have been constant demand for establishment of a permanent autonomous commission as an independent statutory body which can make recommendations on laws and policies relating to women without any influence of the government.

In view of this demand and after having debate and interaction at national level with leading NGOs, the government set up The National Commission on the Status of Women in July 2000.

The Commission consists of one Chairperson and twenty members having wide experience in socio-economic problems of women. The functions of the NCSW are as under:

  1. examine the policy, programmes and other measures taken by the Government for women development and gender equality to assess implementation and make suitable recommendations to the concerned authorities where considered necessary for effective impact;

  2. review all laws, rules and regulations affecting the status and rights of women and suggest repeal, amendment or new legislation essential to eliminate discrimination, safeguard and promote the interests of women and achieve gender equality in accordance with the Constitution and obligations under international covenants and commitments;

  3. monitor the mechanism and institutional procedures for redress of violation of women's rights, individual grievances, and facilities for social care, and undertake initiatives for better management and efficient provision of justice and social services through the concerned forums and authorities;

  4. encourage and sponsor research to generate information, analysis and studies relating to women and gender issues to provide knowledge and awareness for rational policy and strategic action;

  5. develop and maintain interaction and dialogue with non-governmental organization, experts and individuals in society and an active association with similar commissions and institutions in other countries for collaboration and action to achieve gender equality and development at the national, regional and international level; and

  6. any other function which may be assigned to it by the Federal Government.