Speakers call for giving economic empowerment to women

Speakers at different rallies, seminars and other functions have called for giving economic empowerment to women so that they could come out from clutches of discrimination and injustice and nobody dare to resort to violence against them.
A large number of women belonging to different organisations took to streets here on Wednesday to raise voice for protection of their rights on the occasion of International Women's Day observed here like other parts of the world.
The Women Workers Help Line organised a seminar on the topic of "Stop beating women". Among others, Shah Taj Qazalbash, Nazli Javed, Riffat Maqsood, Farooq Tariq and Bushra Khaliq addressed the seminar.
They urged the women to forge unity to strengthen the struggle against their exploitation, saying that the struggle for working women's emancipation can only succeed if all workers, men and women, fight together.
Nazli Javed regretted that mothers are still being tortured over birth of a female baby. She said that Women Workers Help Line has launched a movement against domestic torture on women.
Farooq Tariq spoke against capitalist exploitation and against imperialism. He explained the origins of the oppression of women in very simple words and the women were excited and enthusiastic during his speech.
He also explained the path to fight against the system, oppression and exploitation of women and the working class as a whole. "We should be united and should struggle for a better life and future along with the male workers because we all are part of one class - the working class, he added.
Earlier, police personnel did not allow the activists of NGO to move forward towards Laxami Chowk from Shimla Pahari. The activists of NGO complained of police high-handedness.
Working Women Organisation also held a demonstration outside the Press Club against price-hike, harassment of women at workplace, and poverty.
Addressing the demonstrators, Mohtarma Aima Mahmood called for making legislation to stop violence against women. She said that 66 percent of the world's working hours are filled in by women while only 10 percent of the world's income is earned by them.
The Pak Women Welfare Organisation also organised a function to mark the Day. Addressing the meeting, Organisation Chairperson Qamar Shaheen praised the provincial government of Pervaiz Elahi for significant budgetary allocations for girl child's education, the most powerful tool to empower people. She said that over 0.5 million more children got enrolled in schools last year as a result of the incentives of the Punjab government.
The Pakistan Workers Federation also staged a demonstration against rising incidence of violence against women. Mrs Huma Aziz led the demonstrators.
Earlier, the women activists of the federation held a meeting at Labour Hall in which it was demanded for better health and educational facilities to women.
Addressing the meeting, Huma said that women are still discriminated at home, especially in rural areas; in provision of nutrition, education and treatment as human beings. The first thing is to give them equal opportunity, she added.