White Ribbon Day, marking eradication of violence against women, was celebrated across Pakistan on Tuesday. Candlelight vigils were arranged to show solidarity with the women who become victims of violence, and to reiterate pledge to end the practice, Country Director of White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan, Omer Aftab said.
Talking to the media, Aftab said in order to stop violence against women, it is insufficient to raise awareness about among women. It is necessary that men also join to encourage norms of consent, respect and gender equality to challenge relations that lead to violence, and promote gender roles based on gender justice, he added.
Aftab further said that in the current wave of terror, we found it more appropriate to celebrate the White Ribbon Day 2009 nation-wide in 54 cities across the country and Azad Kashmir, including cities Swat, Malakand, Dir, Peshawar, D.I.Khan, Quetta, D.G.Khan, to create ripples of peace.