Rights of women: speakers call to develop network at grass-root level

Speakers urged at the consultative meeting that the network on rights of women should be developed at grass root level as social stigma against woman could be eliminated from society. They were speaking in the consultative meeting on "Stop Killing Women" organised by Women Action Forum (WAF) at Khanabadosh Writers Café on Friday.
Leader of WAF, Dr Irfana Mallah said that they were planning the campaign against the honour killing of women in the Sindh province. "We have worked on this issue and develop some suggestions with launching campaign to eliminate social stigma against vulnerable population including woman and children", she said adding this meeting is being held to get inputs on the issue from civil society and other intellectuals.
This campaign is being launched to discourage the honour killing in province where the society should not support the killer of women as seen in some cases but he or she should be stand with victims and their families, she said. We have to educate the people about this social evil and its ways which could help them in standing with the victims and force police and other justice providers to support the affected family, she said.
Social Activist, Punhal Sario said that the political parties should be made a part of network which would be beneficial in supporting them to get its desired results.
Another Leader of WAF, Amar Sindhu said that they wanted to bring a change within society as the women could not be targeted or victimised in name of honour. "We want to develop the network at gross root level to launch the campaign against honour killing and Jirga being held to settle dispute of honour killing", she said.
Head of SCF, Javed Hussain said that the campaign should be launched to educate the people about existing laws on the women's rights including Domestic Violence at Home. Co-ordinator HRCP Hyderabad, Dr Ashothama said that before declaring anyone as killer, there was a need for conducting independent fact-findings survey to know the real situation. Active Member of WAF, Haseen Musrat said that they would use the social media and other tools over any victimisation against woman occurred in the any corner of province. Besides, training sessions should be organised to educate our activists at district level and even at lower level about exiting laws and rights of women, she said.