Inducements of violence against women are increasing because of a lack of empowerment. Their role in the society must be acknowledged and their rights protected, said speakers at a conference titled Contribution of Political-parties for the Protection of Women’s Rights on Monday.
The conference was organised by the Peace and Human Development Foundation (PHD Foundation) and the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM), in collaboration with the Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and Idara Samahji Behbood (ISB).
National Assembly Member Khalida Mansoor said, “Men must take part in the campaign and provide women and girls with the security, safety and freedom they deserve.”
She said Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) reaffirmed its commitment to create an environment conducive to the emancipation of women from exploitation and discrimination. “We promise to eradicate all forms of violence against women,” she said.
A Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member, Noorun Nisa Malik said, “The federal government has enacted reforms to protect women from harassment at work and has empowered the poorest of them through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).”
She said the PPP would prosecute perpetrators of crimes against women and never abandon the women’s cause, she said.
Punjab Assembly Member Razia Joseph said the Punjab government had taken revolutionary steps to ensure the protection of women’s rights and to provide them equal opportunity.
PHD Foundation Director Suneel Malik said discrimination against women was rooted at home. “It is unfortunate that men who commit hideous crimes against females know they will not be held accountable,” he said.
“The day we stop discriminating against girls at home, the society will start moving in the right direction,” he added.
AWAM Director Nazia Sardar said, “It’s not a few individuals who subject women to injustices; it’s the entire society, especially where women are victims of social taboos. Attitudes need to change to allow social progress.”
Dr Najma Afzal of the PML-N, said the Punjab government had taken steps to include women in the mainstream of progress. “
Arif Ayaz, an Awami Workers Party member, said, “The rights of unregistered women engaged in the informal sector, including home-based workers, peasants and domestic workers must be protected.”
AWAM Executive Secretary Naseem Anthony said gender-related violence would continue until women’s empowerment.
“No society can achieve progress without granting rights to the women, “he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2013.