A seminar on role of male and female youth in ending gender based violence was held in collaboration with Baidarie Sialkot and University of Gujrat Sialkot sub-campus. Addressing the seminar, Professor Arshid Mehmood Mirza, Executive Director Baidarie said that Pakistan stands at 143rd position among 144 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index developed by the World Economic Forum.
Similarly according to the Gender Inequality Index report released by UNDP in 2016, Pakistan ranks at 121st place in a list of 155 assessed countries. A report released Punjab Commission on the status of women reflects that during 2017 there was a significant 12 percent increase in acts of violence against women in Punjab whereas the incidents of rape have cases increased by 17 percent.
He lamented that even the small kids like Zainab in Kasur are not being spared and they are being subjected to sexual assault and assassination. Mirza said that act of gender based harassment and violence against women are quite rampant in the indoor and outdoor spheres of life. Gender biased stereotypes, extremism, economic imbalances, lack of awareness in women about their rights and the support systems are the major causes for these violent acts which devastate lives, limit options for women and girls, fractures families & communities and stalls development.
He appreciated that the government has promulgated women protection laws in 2010, 2012 and 2016. There is however a dire need that communities in general and women in particular be made aware about the presence of these laws. Key players in state and society must not only provide Social supports, physiological counselling, legal aid to the women and girls survivors of violence but also make sustained efforts to effect change in societal thoughts/approaches about gender roles societal attitudes and practices.
Addressing the seminar Shahid Mir Advocate - a well-known jurist said that law is developed for bringing peace in society and protecting the citizens from every sort of encroachment on their rights. Pakistan has a lot of laws but the country thirsts for across the board implementation of these laws. From 2006 to 2012 several women protection laws have been promulgated but still the citizens in general and the vulnerable populations including women in particular are insecure and unsafe.
He said that as before Islam, women were considered inferior, but our Prophet (PBUH) advised us to provide equal rights to women. He himself treated women with respect ensuring their dignity and honor. He emphasized that organizations like Baidarie should come forward and launch programs for protecting women from gender based discrimination and violence. He hoped that student will also play an effective role in advancing the cause of gender responsiveness, human dignity and respect in society.
Speaking on the occasion Professor Ms Aqsa Ijaz said that perverted social practices and distorted mindset are barriers for realization of the fundamental and vital rights of women. The discrimination begin from home so it is imperatively necessary for all of us to educate the male members in our family setups to respect the women and girls in and out of the four walls of the house.
She said not the more laws but more actions are required to implement the existing laws for saving women and girls from every sort of discrimination and violence. We need to change our behaviors and bad practices in society. She questioned that why our legal system does not let the women have easy access to the legal services even in very urgent and extreme hours of need. She demanded that state and society must work together to evolve society in which every man, woman and child may enjoy the basic human rights promised by the constitution of Pakistan. Professor Dr Ijaz Sandhu, Sajid Ahmad Khan Advocate and Kaleem Raza also spoke on the occasion.