Qanoon aur Aurat
'Women & Law'
(Sindhi edition)
Sponsored by Oxfam
Prepared and published by Wada Kitab Ghar,
Women & Development
Association, Karachi
Pages: 55
(For free distribution)
Sometime ago, Wada Kitab Ghar published an informative booklet 'Law and we, the Women' in Urdu spelling out in simple terms 'where women stand in connection with the Constitution and law in Pakistan. The distinction of 'women' is made because in Pakistan certain laws are women-specific, and their circumstantial-applicability and then procedural requirement/s are such that women need to be aware fully to cope with various situations in their lives.
The present publication 'Qanoon aur Aurat' (women & law) is a translation in Sindhi of the earlier Urdu version 'Qanoon aur Hum Aurtein (Law and we, the women). This Sindhi version is a good move for two reasons, one, because it is the rural women who lack access to channels of information, and two, the language spoken and understood by the majority in rural areas is Sindhi. To translate the Urdu version in Sindhi must have been a compelling demand by the Sindhi speaking community visiting the cities and towns from the interior or rural areas.
The booklet is in fact based on guidelines for the basic awareness of matters concerning women, their rights and where law affects them adversely. The two pressing matters are dealt with in concise form so as to avoid confusion through detail and legal jargons; one, how is one's rights to be protected, and two, in case of violation, how to get justice.
The language used in the book is simple and the style is for providing 'maximum information' in easy to understand language (this is good because of the high illiteracy rate in rural areas). A man or a woman with basic 'read and write' background would be able to comprehend the matter and make others understand the contents in their right perspective.
In dealing with matters of law, the compilers have drawn on the expertise of PAWLA (Pakistan Women Lawyers Association) for accuracy and maximising the information. The subjects or areas that have been dealt with have been carefully chosen so as to cover, as far as possible all that women, if need be, would need to take their first step in the right direction.
In Pakistan, due to the low literacy rate, specially among women, there is a lack of understanding about a great deal of things concerning health and hygiene, safe drinking water, child care and upbringing etc that matters of law take backseat except when they find themselves in trouble not understand what their rights are and how to go about claiming the same. In this respect the booklet will serve them in understanding the way to get more information and help from the right quarters.
I have one suggestion and that is that this booklet be distributed to girls' schools and at social centres in rural areas. I am not sure if this is being done, but if it is then that is what will make this booklet more useful to families, especially women.
The subjects referred to, some to provide a background and initial understanding of the Constitution and law takes up the following titles and then proceed to give brief description: Pakistan's Constitution and women, women's constitutional rights, employment, rape, marriage, requirements of marriage (consent and wali), acceptance of marriage, jahez and other expenses, Law of inheritance (rights), divorce, various other rights, family courts and a reflection on 'law and justice'. There is also a reference to the 'Commission of Inquiry for Women' and its various recommendations for the purpose of awareness.
Digressing a little from the publication, I must say that the report published by the 'Commission of Inquiry for Women' is one of the finest documents ever produced on the subject of 'women's rights'. These recommendation, if ever implemented, would make Pakistan, the one country, and for that matter a Muslim country where women may raise their head with pride to say to the world, 'Islam is the religion that gave all fair and possible rights to women in all respects'.
'Women & Law'
(Sindhi edition)
Sponsored by Oxfam
Prepared and published by Wada Kitab Ghar,
Women & Development
Association, Karachi
Pages: 55
(For free distribution)
Sometime ago, Wada Kitab Ghar published an informative booklet 'Law and we, the Women' in Urdu spelling out in simple terms 'where women stand in connection with the Constitution and law in Pakistan. The distinction of 'women' is made because in Pakistan certain laws are women-specific, and their circumstantial-applicability and then procedural requirement/s are such that women need to be aware fully to cope with various situations in their lives.
The present publication 'Qanoon aur Aurat' (women & law) is a translation in Sindhi of the earlier Urdu version 'Qanoon aur Hum Aurtein (Law and we, the women). This Sindhi version is a good move for two reasons, one, because it is the rural women who lack access to channels of information, and two, the language spoken and understood by the majority in rural areas is Sindhi. To translate the Urdu version in Sindhi must have been a compelling demand by the Sindhi speaking community visiting the cities and towns from the interior or rural areas.
The booklet is in fact based on guidelines for the basic awareness of matters concerning women, their rights and where law affects them adversely. The two pressing matters are dealt with in concise form so as to avoid confusion through detail and legal jargons; one, how is one's rights to be protected, and two, in case of violation, how to get justice.
The language used in the book is simple and the style is for providing 'maximum information' in easy to understand language (this is good because of the high illiteracy rate in rural areas). A man or a woman with basic 'read and write' background would be able to comprehend the matter and make others understand the contents in their right perspective.
In dealing with matters of law, the compilers have drawn on the expertise of PAWLA (Pakistan Women Lawyers Association) for accuracy and maximising the information. The subjects or areas that have been dealt with have been carefully chosen so as to cover, as far as possible all that women, if need be, would need to take their first step in the right direction.
In Pakistan, due to the low literacy rate, specially among women, there is a lack of understanding about a great deal of things concerning health and hygiene, safe drinking water, child care and upbringing etc that matters of law take backseat except when they find themselves in trouble not understand what their rights are and how to go about claiming the same. In this respect the booklet will serve them in understanding the way to get more information and help from the right quarters.
I have one suggestion and that is that this booklet be distributed to girls' schools and at social centres in rural areas. I am not sure if this is being done, but if it is then that is what will make this booklet more useful to families, especially women.
The subjects referred to, some to provide a background and initial understanding of the Constitution and law takes up the following titles and then proceed to give brief description: Pakistan's Constitution and women, women's constitutional rights, employment, rape, marriage, requirements of marriage (consent and wali), acceptance of marriage, jahez and other expenses, Law of inheritance (rights), divorce, various other rights, family courts and a reflection on 'law and justice'. There is also a reference to the 'Commission of Inquiry for Women' and its various recommendations for the purpose of awareness.
Digressing a little from the publication, I must say that the report published by the 'Commission of Inquiry for Women' is one of the finest documents ever produced on the subject of 'women's rights'. These recommendation, if ever implemented, would make Pakistan, the one country, and for that matter a Muslim country where women may raise their head with pride to say to the world, 'Islam is the religion that gave all fair and possible rights to women in all respects'.
