ISLAMABAD, March 7: On International Women`s Day, on Thursday, NGOs and civil society discussed the importance and limitations of legislation in supporting and empowering women.

Along with government, society at large was called upon to recognise and work for women`s rights.

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) published a study on Thursday in which they noted that recently, out of 265 bills, 80 or around 30 per cent, had become law.

Out of 41 bills related to women`s issues. However, only seven less than 20 per cent were acted upon. The study noted that three `women and family-related bills could not become law` despite approval from both houses of Parliament, since the National Assembly could not reconsider them after Senate amendments. A bill discouraging domestic violence is also still languishing in Parliament.

Naufail Shahrukh, a spokesman for IPS, noted that public representatives and legislators had a major role to play in protecting and ensuring women`s rights.

However, he noted, `change cannot come through legislation only.` He highlighted the family as the social institution that must commit to ending preference for male children and greater privilege for men.

While much of the recent legislation was praised for example, a law that bans forced marriages many other issues impact its efficacy.

Sarwar Bari, an activist, noted that in some cases `Women are not even aware of their legal rights. The government does not advertise or make public the legislation that affects them.` In other cases, laws go un-enforced; many public sector offices, for example, have not established the three-member committees required under an anti-harassment bill.

`Implementation is a major issue,` said one NGO employee who did not want to give her name. She said while the government had formulated several good laws `No law is self-sufficient. Laws require a certain environment to actualise their ideals and achieve their objectives.Working women, in particular, face several unique issues, including the lack of maternity leave, daycare centres for their children, and, in some offices, even restrooms. Many issues, however, are broader, for example, access to education for girls, or the `10 million women missing` from voter registration lists, as Sarwar Bari mentioned.

Ayesha Khan, an Islamabad reporter, gave the big picture, saying that `the most serious issue is that society is becoming stranger every day.` She pointed to the challenges women must face every day: `People think that staring at girls is their duty. Even cabdrivers concentrate more on the girl in their rearview mirror than on the road.