The “Advancing Gender Equality in Legislation: A Workshop on Gender-Sensitive Legislative Drafting”, in collaboration with Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) and Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) was held on 14th and 15th December 2024 at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) in Islamabad, Pakistan. It convened over 100 participants, including distinguished legislators, experts, and international delegates. The workshop aimed to foster collaboration and advance gender equality through inclusive policymaking and legislative practices. Spanning two days, it featured dynamic discussions, panel sessions, and practical exercises, addressing challenges, showcasing successes, and proposing actionable strategies for gender-sensitive reforms.
The inaugural session set the tone with keynote addresses by Hon. Dr. Shahida Rehmani, Secretary of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), and Hon. Ms. Zainab Gimba, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians. They underscored the urgency of inclusivity in legislative drafting and called for unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality. Subsequent sessions explored themes such as international standards and legal frameworks, featuring discussions on global frameworks like Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and highlighted successful legislative models from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives to share best international practices. The session on Problem Identification and Gap Analysis addressed key barriers, including entrenched cultural norms, structural challenges, and legislative gaps. Panelists emphasized the importance of gender-sensitive drafting, inclusive decision-making, and public awareness initiatives as tools for addressing these disparities. The second day was dedicated to practical sessions on drafting gender-inclusive bills. Panelists provided actionable strategies for incorporating gender-neutral language, intersectional perspectives, and precise definitions to eliminate ambiguities. These hands-on exercises equipped participants with the tools necessary to craft transformative and equitable legislation.
The final panel, focusing on the Way Forward, emphasized the need for reforms in gender-sensitive laws and policies. Participants advocated for collaboration between lawmakers, civil society, and gender experts, along with awareness campaigns and accountability mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks by Hon. Ms. Shahida Akhtar Ali, Treasurer of WPC, and reflections from delegates which underscored the regional impact of the workshop and reinforced a shared commitment to advancing gender equality. A Certificate Distribution Ceremony, a tour of the Parliament and feedback surveys marked the event’s conclusion, with participants resolving to apply the workshop’s outcomes to promote inclusivity and equitable governance within their respective contexts.