Collaborative efforts stressed for empowering persons with disabilities

Islamabad: To celebrate the contributions of women with disabilities and of those who have been instrumental to support women with disabilities and their struggle for rights, Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) and Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP), organised first-ever Khadija Tul Kubra Award on Tuesday.

From all across the country, 20 women with disabilities received the awards under four categories including Women Leaders with Disability, Emerging Leaders of Women with Disability, Role models for Women with Disability and Leaders of Movement.

There was all celebration around with flowers, balloons, music and lights. Excitement was writ on the faces of women with disability who were dressed up with special make over by fashion icon Tariq Amin’s team.

Conceived by WPC and STEP, the awards were organized with the support of the Embassy of United States, Trocaire and Mobility International. The event was attended by a large number of women with disabilities, parliamentarians, diplomats, UN representatives, rights activists and celebrities. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb was the chief guest on the occasion.

Women with disabilities are Pakistan’s largest overlooked minority. Accurate statistics for the number of people with disabilities living in Pakistan are not available and estimates vary from 3.3 million to 27 million. Even more limited is the data for women with disabilities. A 2012 research report gave a total of 2092439 women living with disability in Pakistan. Many live in poverty and suffer discrimination, exclusion, inequality and prejudice.

Speaking on this occasion, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb said the biggest challenge in the way of empowering Persons with Disability (PWDs) is the social mindset. Stressing for collaborative effort, she said that only government or individuals could not bring the required change.

In her welcome note, MNA and Secretary WOC Shaista Pervaiz Malik said that The Pakistan Rights of Persons with Disability Bill 2017 was introduced in the Assembly on January 16, 2018.

Country Head UN Women Jamshed Kazi said that minor adjustments at household level and in the basic infrastructure can make a huge difference in the lives of PWDs.

In his welcome remarks, Executive Director STEP Muhammad Atif Shiekh said that basic concept behind organizing these awards is to recognize the struggle of women with disability. “It was a difficult decision to select 20 out of 101 nominations received.