Aurat march demands implementation of women protection laws

LAHORE:The Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and Aurat March Lahore organised a rally from the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday on the eve of National Women’s Day.

The Aurat march participants demanded an effective implementation of women’s protection laws in Punjab. They called for an end to internet censorship, the repeal of defamation laws, and the establishment of family courts in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Adequate security measures were in place to ensure the safety of participants of march. The participants raised slogans for women’s rights, social justice, and equality while advocating for religious, linguistic, and gender minorities.

They highlighted several demands, including, strengthening workplace sexual harassment committees, ending violence and discrimination against transgender individuals and ensuring gender self-determination, securing girls' education in disputed areas and abolishing forced conversions, repealing the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 and Section 144, restoring student unions and halting the misuse of agricultural land for private gain and developing comprehensive anti-smog policies. Speaking to The News, women’s rights activist Bushra Khaliq stressed the need for equality and justice, also advocating for the rights of domestic and home-based workers.