Speakers at a seminar have asked the government to take solid and immediate steps for providing protection to women against the increasing domestic violence. The seminar was arranged by United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in collaboration with United Nations secretary-general's Campaign 'UNITE to End Violence against Women' here on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, UNIFEM Country Programme Director, Alice Shackelford read the message of UN Secretary General Bin Ki Moon. The message of the United Nations secretary-general said "In the ten years since the General Assembly designated November 25 as the 'International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women', the circle of engagement has widened.
More groups and individuals, including men and boys, are getting involved in efforts to prevent and address this heinous violation of women's human rights. There has also been significant progress at the national level as many countries have adopted laws and comprehensive action plans", the message added.
He further said, "women around the world are the very linchpin keeping families, communities, and nations together. On this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to women's human rights; let us invest more resources in countering violence; and let us do all it takes to end these horrific assaults once and for all." While highlighting some of the specific problems faced by women, she said that the world we are living in, violence against women and girls is a major source of insecurity for half of the world's population.
At the same time the women activist from many non-government organisations announced to start the 16 days of activism against gender violence (25 November to 10 December). Speaking on the occasion, Sulman Asif, UN Gender Advisor to Pakistan, said that the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (Wednesday) is being observed across the globe. It is the day when people around the world take time to highlight and bring to the fore the need for continuing action to eliminate violence against women.
Women activist Kashwar Sultana speaking on the occasion said that violence affects the lives of millions of women worldwide, in all socio-economic and educational classes. Violence against women does not discriminate. Many women are not aware of the many forms of abuse and are of the false belief that if they are not being battered and bruised physically they are not being abused.