Drive to end gender-based violence reviewed

LAHORE: A meeting was organized at Aurat Foundation office here regarding the 16-day campaign to end gender-based violence.

Sara Anum, Resident Director of Aurat Foundation Lahore, said at the beginning of the meeting about the activities of the campaign. November 25 is observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Because on the same day in 1960, three sisters from the Dominican Republic, Patria, Minerva and Maria, were killed by the ruler and dictator of the country, Rafael Trujillo, by his men because the three sisters were against the government of Rafael Trujillo.

In memory of this event, in 1990, the United Nations General Assembly named November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. After the mentioned date till 10th December, the days of important world themes are observed one after the other.

November 29 is the International Day of Social Workers working on human rights. World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on December 3 December 5 is International Volunteer Day December 6 commemorates violence against women and the Montreal massacre. On December 6, 1989, Mark, a Canadian, committed suicide after killing 14 female students at an engineering school in the suburbs of France. International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated on December 9.

December 10 is celebrated as International Human Rights Day. In this context, on December 10, the 16-day activities organised against gender violence around the world, including in Pakistan, come to an end. Nabeela Shaheen, programme coordinator, said that this campaign calls for greater political, social and financial investment to end gender-based violence. The laws made to end gender-based violence in Pakistan should be made effective.