Call to protect women rights

LAHORE

The Punjab government has taken far-reaching measures for the protection of rights of women.   These views were expressed by speakers at an awareness seminar arranged at Government Postgraduate College for Women Samanabad in connection with ‘her talk’ campaign of Women Development Department, according to a handout issued here on Wednesday.

Principal Prof Dr Rukhsana Bhutta, Prof Dr Shaheena Asif, Hamid Maqbool Bhatti Advocate, Ramma Shahid and others spoke on the occasion. A large number of teachers and students of the college attended the seminar.

The speakers apprised the participants in detail of the measures taken under Women Packages for the protection of rights of women, their economic empowerment and provision of legal assistance. They said that under 'Her Talk' campaign against gender-based violence arranged by Women Development Department, seminars, art and documentary film competitions had been organised at various educational institutions.

They stressed the need for collective efforts for changing attitude towards women and pointed out that educated women and men can play an important role in this regard. They said that new topics were being introduced in syllabus to highlight the importance of the role of women in national development. They said that Ombudswoman had been appointed in the province while Provincial Commission on women and toll-free helpline 1043 are also operating.

They said that help desks had been set up for women at all police stations while Deputy/Assistant Prosecutors had been appointed in all districts for providing free legal assistance to women. The speakers at the seminar said that government was ensuring the right of women in inheritance. They said that amendments had been made to the laws for enabling women to play an active role in all sectors of human endeavour. They said that change in social mindset was essential for setting up a healthy society.