prevent and fight gender-based violence through implementing Women Empowerment Packages 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017. She urged that we should join hands to make Pakistan a safe place for all.
Mumtaz Mughal, Resident Director, Aurat Foundation said the situation has marked Pakistan as ‘off-track’ on the global obligations and Pakistan is ranked 143 out of 144 countries according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2017. Despite making a lot of effort unfortunately we are still facing a number of challenges regarding women empowerment.
Wazir Khan, young women rights activist from Gender Studies Department of Punjab University said education is a human right and without it we can’t achieve equality, development and peace.
Campaign: Punjab Commission on the Status of Women has launched a 16-day activism campaign to end violence against women all over the Punjab.
Each year, from November 25th to December 10th, the United Nations, international agencies, governments across the globe, non-government organisations and community-based organisations working for the promotion of women’s rights, partake in an international campaign to end violence against women.
The campaign begins on 25th November, International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10th December, International Human Rights Day.
In this connection, addressing a press conference held here PCSW Chairperson Fauzia Viqar stated that as a society and as a nation we must fight to end discrimination against women and ensure that women are protected adequately. She said the stability and growth of any society is directly linked to the status of women. Therefore, any act of violence against women must be taken as an attempt to sabotage the social order.
Commissioner Lahore Division Abdullah Khan Sumbal said the government is taking measures to end violence against women who have a big share of the whole population. It is needed to adopt progressive approach for human development.
Women’s role: Provincial Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu, in his message on the eve of anti-violence day against women, has said the Punjab government is committed to empowering women as they have an indispensable role in socio-economic development of the country.