Parliamentarians is ever increasing in the current sphere. It is true that the role of women in politics has increased over the past few years with more women entering into Parliament and taking an active part in the decision-making process. Parliamentarians can give hope to women and women Parliamentarians as well as to their male counterparts by lobbying at every level to formulate policy meas- ures for addressing women issues and implementing them in letter and spirit.They should lobby, advocate and influence their governments to develop and implement national plans of action to combat all manifestations of domestic violence and provide remedies for victims of domestic violence. There is a need to be able to apprehend and deal
constructively with perpetrators of domestic vio- lence. It may be more important to determine and seek a solution to its origins, any warning signs and create an environment for easy early recourse to pro- fessional help.They should develop a mechanism by convincing their governments to establish institutions for data collection, research, information services, and addressing complaints of domestic violence at federal, provincial, district and local levels and these cells should be bound to submit their monthly reports
regarding domestic violence on a regular basis. Governments should adopt legislation which makes domestic violence in all its manifestations a criminal offence and ensure that all law enforcement officers, police personnel and judicial workers are made fully aware of the legislation and of the obligation to enforce it.They should play their active role to take protective measures, including refuges, counseling, rehabilitation and support services for women at risk of honour-related violence. Parliamentarians should empower women so that
they themselves can fight for their rights.As a first step, governments should firmly, publicly and unequivocally condemn violence in the name of honour and that anyone caught taking the law into their own hands will be brought to justice. Parliamentarians should work to achieve the target laid down by the Commonwealth plan of action on gender and development for having 30 per cent rep- resentation in Parliaments. Some countries such as South Africa have achieved this goal but many others are still lagging behind.They should initiate con- scious effort to address the causes of inequity between men and women. Ensuring the promotion and protection of rights of women should be their priority.