COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN 
Resumed twenty-sixth session 
Agenda item 5 (b) 

INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS RELATING TO THE STATUS OF WOMEN 
DOCUMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN 

Communication dated 13 December 1976, addressed to the Secretary of the Commission on the Status of Women, by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office of Geneva

The following communication was received from the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva

“The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva prevents his compliments to the Secretary of the United Nations Commission on the status of Women and has the honour to enclose herewith the text of a Declaration on the Rights of Women by Begum Nusrat Bhutto, wife of the Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of the National Organizing and Co-ordinating Committee for Women’s activities in Pakistan. It would be appreciated if this Declaration is circulated to the Commission as a conference document under item 3 (b).”

[ ] POINTS DECLARATION OF RIGHTS OF WORK BY BEGUM NUSRAT BHUTTO, FIRST LADY OF PAKISTAN AND PRESIDENT, NATIONAL [ ] AND CO-ORDINATING [ ] FOR WOMEN’S ACTIVITIES

Article 1
Discrimination against women is contrary to the injunctions of Islam, violates constitutional guarantees and constitutes an offence against human dignity. 
Article 2
All appropriate measures shall be taken to abolish prejudicial practices, customs and usages which are discriminatory against women and to ensure adequate legal protection for safeguarding the rights of women. 
Article 3
All appropriate measures shall be taken to educated public opinion and to direct national aspirations towards the eradication of prejudice and the abolition of customary and other practices based on the idea of inferiority of women. 
Article 4
All appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure to women without any discrimination:
	(a)	The right to vote in all elections and be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies. 
	(b)	The right to hold public office and to exercise all public functions. 
Article 5 
Without prejudice to safeguarding of the unity and harmony of the family, which remains the basic unit of any society, all appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure to women their rights according to personal law and in particular:
	(a)	The right to acquire, administer and to enjoy, to dispose of and inherit property, including property acquired during marriage; 
	(b)	The right to equality in legal capacity and the exercise thereof; 
	(c)	The right to enter into marriage with their consent; 
	(d)	The right of release from marital bond in accordance with her personal law including the right of “Khula”; 
	(e)	The right to maintenance in accordance with law during the subsistence of marriage; 
	(f)	The right to the custody of her children in accordance with her personal law;
	(g)	The right to receive her dower debt and articles of dowry within the shortest possible time on divorce;  
	(h)	The right to be protected against false accusations by the husband as to her chastity with a view to deprive her of her right to custody or guardianship of children or to receive maintenance; 
	(i)	The right to maintenance of children during the period they are in her custody. 
Article 6
As far as possible wholetime Family Courts shall be set up for the disposal of cases expeditiously under the Family Laws. 
Article 7
Substantial tax relief shall be given in case of gifts made in favour of mother, wife, daughter or sister. 
Article 8
All appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure women equal opportunity in education at all levels. 
Article 9
All efforts will be made to ensure adequate healthcare to women. 
Article 10 
Multipurpose centres for women shall be set up within the shortest possible time to impart training and knowledge to women and enable them to take up productive occupations. 
Article 11 
All appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure to women proper opportunities in economic and social life in particular. 
	(a)	The right to receive vocational training, to work, to free choice of profession and employment and to professional and vocational advancement. 
	(b)	The right to equality of treatment in respect of work of equal value. 
Article 12
To ensure an effective right to work, measures shall be taken to prevent their dismissal in the event of marriage or maternity and to provide paid maternity leave with guarantee of returning to former employment, and to provide the necessary social services including child care facilities. 
Article 13
Place-work and part-time work shall be provided to women where feasible. 
Article 14
Stringent rules and regulations shall be made to ensure that men in the course of their employment treat women working in the same office, factory or field with respect and dignity. 
Article 15 
Every effort shall be made to provide appropriate accommodation and transport facilities for working women as essential basic facilities and to ensure dignity and security. 
Article 16
Representation of women in all commission and committees set up by the Government and in delegations sent abroad shall be progressively increased. 
Article 17
Qualified women shall be associated in policy-market and planning in the Federal and Provincial Governments. 
Article 18
The mass-media shall be geared to adopt positive and constructive portrayal of women in their multiple roles in society. 
Article 19
The Federal and Provincial Governments, autonomous and statutory bodies, voluntary organizations and individuals shall be required to do all in their power to promote the implementation of the principles contained in this Declaration.