National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), in collaboration with the National Lobbying Delegation (NLD) and Community World Service Asia (CWSA), convened a high-level Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Christian Personal Laws in Islamabad to mark International Human Rights Day and the conclusion of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The dialogue brought together legal experts, parliamentarians, Christian community leaders, civil society representatives, and human rights advocates to discuss urgent reforms to ensure gender justice and equal protection for Christian women and girls in Pakistan.
Chairperson NCSW, Ms. Ume Laila Azhar, emphasized the need to address existing discrimination through a strong human rights approach. She reaffirmed NCSW’s commitment to advancing a formal declaration on Christian Personal Laws, initiating a community-focused awareness campaign, and raising the issue in the Gender Mainstreaming Committee and Senate forums. “NCSW stands firmly with the community. This is the time to move toward inclusive and progressive reform,” she stated.
Parliamentarians expressed unified support for reform. Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, stressed the urgency of replacing outdated laws with modern, rights-based frameworks. He reaffirmed his support and committed to try his best to get this law approved in the coming year. MNA James Iqbal committed to building community consensus and championing the reforms in Parliament. Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed called for immediate amendments to colonial-era laws and broader legal recognition for churches. Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, Ms. Saba Sadiq, urged swift passage of the Christian Marriage and Divorce legislation and emphasized judicial sensitization.
Representatives of CWSA, as a core partner, reiterated their commitment to supporting inclusive legal reforms and strengthening protections for minority women.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Ume Laila Azhar thanked NLD, CWSA, and all stakeholders, emphasizing that sustained collaboration between government institutions and civil society is essential for ensuring progressive reforms and effective implementation.
