IPMG resolves to expedite efforts for gender equality.

ISLAMABAD -- The 14th Inter Provincial Ministerial Group (IPMG) meeting on Tuesday resolved to expedite efforts for achieving gender equality and pursue women's empowerment as the world is set to mark the 25th anniversary of Beijing Platform for Action - Beijing +25 - next year.

Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Human Rights, provincial ministers, secretaries of Women Development Departments (WDDs) and chairpersons of National and Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women (CSW) attended the meeting, which was hosted by the National Commission on the Status of Women in collaboration with the UN Women Pakistan, a press release said.

IPMG is the only inter-provincial coordination forum having the potential and effectiveness for supporting the women's empowerment and gender equality agenda through sharing of experiences, fostering peer learning, and developing strategies to fulfil the country's national and international commitments.

Pakistan is a signatory to international and national conventions that specifically relate to women rights and freedoms, most importantly, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which the government ratified in 1996. In response to the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), as well as the ratification of CEDAW, Pakistan subsequently set up several National Women's Machineries (NWMs) and pursued numerous initiatives to highlight and implement gender equality and women's empowerment.

Established with the objective to enhance coordination and support concerted efforts for women's empowerment, the group meets periodically to deliberate on the status of women, identify gaps and challenges, discuss solutions and strategize a way forward on key priorities for gender equality in line with Pakistan's national and international commitments. UN Women extends support to the group in terms of providing technical assistance, expertise and capacity building.

The 14th IPMG meeting was chaired by Chairperson NCSW Khawar Mumtaz, and attended by the Federal Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Rabiya Javeri Agha; Director General Human Rights (MoHR) Muhammad Hassan Mangi; Provincial Minister WDD Punjab Ashifa Riaz Fatyana; Provincial Minister WDD Sindh Syeda Shehla Raza; Secretary WDD Punjab Nabeel Javed; Secretary WDD Sindh Aliya Shahid; Director WDD AJK...