Here is something that Ali Eteraz has blogged about that almost reinforces my previous opinion that NGOs are practically useless when it comes to reform in places that need the most. They are usually in the forefront protesting in places where reform has already taken place, but stay conspicuosly silent in others.
What Is Happening To Women’s Protection Bill (Pakistan) ? Eteraz
Most of us have heard of the rape laws in Pakistan, where a woman needs four male witnesses or is convicted of adultery and is victimized once more. There are currently efforts underway to reform those laws, but HRW and other NGOs are opposing the reforms because they are not reaching far enough. It is absolutely admirable that these liberal groups want the laws to change overnight to make everyone equal in the eyes of law, but something tells me that the Pakistani women are willing to take anything they can get right now and keep chipping away at the unfairness.
I can also understand why the reformers are not going to shove too many things down the public’s throats - for a conservative society like Pakistan to completely come out and change is not going to happen overnight. You don’t want to provoke the society so much that the backlash turns back the clock even more. Let’s support reforms in all forms and not oppose them just because they are not all we wanted. Check out Ali’s post for a lot more commentary on the subject and more links.
Posted by shanti at September 9, 2006 7:21 AMTrackBack URL for this entry:
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