Three-day training workshop on promoting Human Rights and Gender Equality in society concluded here on Tuesday inculcating analytical skills for evaluating programs related to gender equality. The workshop, organised by Women's Organisation for Rights and Development (WORD) with the support of CAVISH and Bedari, was held under its program on Gender and Human Rights Education.
Executive Director WORD speaking on the occasion said, "The trainings aim at bringing about positive initiatives for social justice, human rights and gender equality in our country". She apprised that the trainings is part of ongoing programs of Women's Organisation for Rights and Development (WORD) on various topics related to human rights, democracy, social justice, addressing violence against women. Madiha Farhan from Democracy Reporting International described the discussion on CEDAW and Elections 2013. She focused on implementation of election related treaty obligations in the electoral process gaps and recommendations.
She said according to the current findings the National Assembly has still to reach its Beijing target of 30 percent of women parliamentarians in the assembly. She mentioned, "Not only women contest and win is important but also that they are given political leadership positions with more decision making power and opportunities in public offices". This is something to look forward to as an outcome of Elections 2013 and in the formation of the new Government, she remarked.
Co-ordinator WORD, Anum Zuberi led the discussion on the socially defined roles and responsibilities of men and women that very often discriminate women as the weaker gender based on patriarchal norms and values. The training workshop covered explanation of human rights and the importance of human rights based approach to development in addition the UN Human Rights System and the International Instruments that Pakistan had signed and ratified.