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| Countrywide campaign to check violence against women from 25th |
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Monday, November 23, 2009
Our correspondent
Islamabad
Women activists plan to launch a nationwide campaign titled ‘Together to Commit, Act, Demand’, to observe 16 Days of Activism on Elimination of Violence Against Women starting from November 25, the international day on violence against women.
Planned in 10 districts as well as provincial and national level, the campaign is an initiative of Women’s Organisation for Rights and Development (Word) in collaboration with Oxfam.
For years, the 16 Days of Activism for eliminating Violence Against Women has been marked all over the world, women’s organisations launched campaigns, demonstrations, protests and marches throughout the country to commemorate these days. Talking to ‘The News’, Word Executive Director Aqsa Khan said that preliminary assessments were conducted in July at the community levels by the participating organisations to analyse the situation of violence against women and what are the mechanisms of institutional support for victims seeking justice. “A huge gap still exists, women have limited access to justice there are delays and impediments for victims and their families in launching complaints, most of the cases are closed or not discussed due to social and cultural pressures. Based on these findings campaign activities were planned.”
In Pakistan, she said 90 per cent women face violence in some form or the other. “The data collected by the Legislative Watch Group of Aurat Foundation shows that a total number of 4,416 incidents of VAW occurred in 35 districts of Punjab, 1,380 in 23 district of Sindh, 799 in 28 district of NWFP and Fata, 767 in 28 district of Baluchistan between January 1 and December 31 2008.” “It is time for collective action to make concrete demands to end violence against women through strengthening institutional support for victims and survivors of violence seeking justice be it at family, community and organizational levels” said Rubina Chandio, Director Pirbhat Development Society Shahdatkot Sindh.
They said that the campaign would provide a forum for dialogues and strategize for making institutional mechanisms more effective for victims and survivors of violence seeking justice. “It will also work to sensitise law enforcing agencies, policy makers and stakeholders on the issues of violence commonly affecting women by holding them accountable on the international instruments,” said Aqsa.
“A large number of people will be participating in this nationwide campaign through press conferences, seminars, dialogues and consultations. The campaign is not just one off event we will continue to work long term based on the outcomes of these initiatives”, said Balqis Akhter Program Coordinator Word.
Messages will be read out by important national networks such as Women’s Action Forum-Islamabad and Alliance Against Sexual Harassment (Aasha).
Participating Organizations include Oxfam Islamabad, Women’s Action Forum (WAF) Islamabad, Pakistan Welfare Society-Layyah, SYCOP-Muzaffargarh, We Can End Violence Against Women-OXFAM Muzaffargarh, Al Ghaffar Education and Welfare Society-Rahim Yar Khan, Women’s Organization for Rights and Development (Word)-Islamabad and Hasanabdal, Youth Peace Commission Lodhran, IDSP Quetta, Peasant Women’s Society-Khanewal, Mahekan Social Development Organisation Awaran, SAFWCO-Sanghar, Pirbhat Development Organisation-Shahdadkot, Hyderabad, Pakistan Rural Development Programme-Peshawar and District Muzaffarabad.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
