Aurat Foundation’s Quetta office organized a consultative meeting to discuss the concerns and recommendations raised by CEDAW Committee on 4th Periodic Report and provide an update to the participants about how the state party review was conducted during the meeting of CEDAW committees 54th session. They were informed about NGO participation in the session. Discussion was made on the concluding observations of CEDAW committee with the perspective of analyzing that how CEDAW is relevant in the national perspective and how CSOs and other players can intervene in their capacity and lobby for its implementation.

The participants include six women members of present assembly of Balochistan and one former women woman MPA, lawyers, provincial assembly staff, academicians, government officials, NGO representatives, political and social activists and media persons.

The event ended with a number of commitments from the participants. Women parliamentarians assured their full support in the process of pro-women legislation. They were of the view that before moving forward, more emphasis should be on the pending legislations of previous assembly related to women. Lawyers offered their support in drafting pro-women legislation, while NGO representatives suggested formation of a CEDAW watch committee at provincial level to ensure close liaison with government. Media offered desired space to all for awareness raising and information dissemination about CEDAW.