Islamabad: Participants of seminar unimaxously called to prevent
violence against women, several national and international treaties and
commitments have been agreed upon, now this is the time to implement
them in their full letter and spirit.
The seminar was organised
by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on the Role of
Jirga’s in perpetuating violence against women in Gilgit Baltistan
(GB). This seminar was first of its kind in the present history of the
region, before this event, the topic was considered taboo to discuss or
debate.
The seminar was attended by large number of people
representing government’s institutions, legislatures, police department,
academia, NGO’s, media, and civil society. Speaker GB assembly Mr Wazir
Baig participated as a chief guest, whereas, deputy speaker Mr.Jamil
Ahmed attended the event as guest of honor. Ms. Tahira Noor welcomed
the participants and applauded their overwhelming presence on that
occasion. She said, to prevent violence against women, several national
and international treaties and commitments have been agreed upon, now
this is the time to implement them in their full letter and spirit.
Israr from HRCP presented facts and findings about the violence against
women in the region and highlighted the factors that contribute in
carrying on the nuisance of violence inflicted upon women and girls.
He
said, crimes against women like rape, honour killing, forced marriages,
murder, suicide and harassment are so rampant in our society but media
is not vibrant or sensitize enough to highlight them and pave the way
for law enforcing agencies to apprehend the culprits and bring them to
book.
Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal talked about ending violence
against women, Pakistan history, and women’s rights and highlighted the
issues revolving around women. She stressed upon changing the mindset of
people and asked women’s studies institutes, universities and
universities to play their role. She spoke about Islam and history about
Women’s rights- right to marry by her own will and stressed upon media
as well as assembly to relay this message and to create awareness
movements and to educate the people through radio messages.
Ms
Anis Haroon particularly spoke about the Anti -Sexual Harassment Act
2010 and Women Protection Act 2006. She urged Gilgit-Baltistan
Government to setup Women’s Development Ministry and Provincial
Commission on the Status of Women. She mentioned that this was already
in place in KPK. In the end, the speaker and deputy speaker GB assembly
addressed the gathering and they both were unanimously in their call to
end all sorts of crimes against women. They said, the women of our
region enjoy special status as mothers, sisters and daughters in our
families, communities and cultural systems, and we will not tolerate any
injustice or inhuman attitudes towards them. Online
