Coordination among women organisations of Pakistan stressed

Islamabad
Speakers stressed coordination among women organisations of Pakistan and Afghanistan as women in both countries face common challenges.
They were speaking at Regional conference on ‘Education and Human Security Framework in Afghanistan and Pakistan’ organised by SAP, Pakistan, a non-government organisation.
The speakers urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to enhance political cooperation and make joint strategy to address challenges of militancy and extremism. Pointing out similarities among the challenges faced by both countries, they said that education should be the top priority in national agenda.
Researcher Saima Jasam stressed need to promote peace journalism between both the countries. She further said drastic changes in madrassas should be done on priority and in the subject of Islamiat more emphasis should be on humanity.
National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) Chairperson Khawar Mumtaz recommended that women should be considered centre of human security policies as they are the most vulnerable segment of the society in conflict situation. “Women have to be seen as equal citizens regardless of their religion and ethnicity especially in conflict areas,” said Khawar.
Identifying the dangerous trend of extremism and terrorism among women, she said that women are used as tools and forced to take suicide jackets, carry weapons and sending messages. “All these action put their lives in grave danger,” she said. “Even in normal circumstances they have to face economic pressures and asked to come out and join economic activity to run household expenditure,” she opined.
Khawar Mumtaz said discrimination with women is same in culture of both the countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan. “At this time when a both the countries are working to build a narrative for addressing the issues of militancy and extremism, it is recommended that delegations of women parliamentarians should be exchanged between both the countries to establish a mutual way forward,” she suggested.
Khawar Mumtaz further stated that women should be mobilized for peace efforts between both the countries, adding that it was practiced in Swat and proved successful with positive results.
Senior Research Fellow Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri said individual security, national security, regional security and global security are our key concerns. He stated that Pakistan and Afghanistan share a large common border and unfortunately 45 per cent of opium produced in Afghanistan is transported through Pakistan which creates security issues.