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| Say ‘no’ to violence against women, says Fehmida |
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Our correspondent
Islamabad
National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza has said that 10th anniversary of the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was yet another occasion that reminds us of our commitment to ‘Saying No to Violence Against Women’. “This is not a mere slogan: it is a commitment that we all honour and live up to,” she said this in her message on the international day against elimination of violence against women being commemorated though out the world on November 25.
She said that as a human rights advocate and a committed political activist, it gives her a sense of achievement when she noticed that VAW was now being considered, as a human rights issue, a peace and security issue and an issue that concerns both women and men around the world including Pakistan. “In Pakistan, the progressive political and social forces have reminded instrumental in curbing this evil during the past six decades of our independence,” she added.
She said that however, she could not overlook the credit that essentially goes to the youth and media of this country, who have stared looking at these dimensions for accepting them in the given perspective.
Dr. Fehmida said that according to the latest data complied so far reveals shocking trends. “Amazingly about 70 per cent of women experience physical or sexual violence from men in their life time. It happens everywhere-at home and at work, on streets and in schools, during peacetime and in conflict.”
She said that though a global issue, that trend nevertheless, had been more vehement in south Asia, including Pakistan. “The growing cases of acid and stove burn victims, honour killings and harassment in general have seen a steady increase during the present decade, which surely calls for urgent preventive steps,” she added.
The speaker said that the present parliament, being a genuinely representative house, was fully alive to that reality. “It thus goes to credit of the National Assembly that had passed significant legislations, enabling the state machinery to effectively control violence against women.” She said that still needed to be done, that was indeed an uphill ask especially in the wake of existing challenges and risk including the ongoing security issues that entail much big problems that can be perceived. “The VAW remains a major source of insecurity for the women and a greater impediment for not only their own but also for the national development.”
Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that it was with the spirit of addressing the challenges that the women parliamentarians have jointly formed the Women Parliamentary Caucus. She said that the WPC was committed to play a key role in putting together all different areas around a common agenda to ensure protection and access of rights for women. She stressed the need to engage men and youth in order to eliminate VAW. She opined that they were the key to wiping out this menace because they are generally the perpetrators and protectors simultaneously.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
