Country owes debt to girls, women for their resilience: Mehar Roghani

Khawateen Aman Ittehad Assembly held in city, 200 in attendance

PESHAWAR: The women of Pakistan have an important role to play in countering extremism and the country owes a debt to their resilience, said Adviser to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Social Welfare Dr Mehar Taj Roghani. This was stated in a press release issued on Monday following Women Peace Builders Assembly (WPBN) held in Peshawar. According to the document, Khawateen Aman Ittehad, an assembly of more than two hundred women peace builders of K-P who aim to develop a culture of harmony and social diversity, marked the event. They dedicated it to the victims of the APS attack.

According to the handout, Roghani said women are active parts of peace building structures and their role in conflict management and mediation should be improved. “While the principal target groups of this network are women, youth and religious groups, ultimate beneficiaries will be diverse communities in Peshawar,” the document quoted her as saying.

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) Country Representative Hanna Mollen, speaking at the event, said she was inspired by the practical approach adopted by WPBN towards peace building. “Creative solutions to solving disputes, ability to convince angry people not to use violence in disagreements and even mediating between children who are fighting are steps which constitute practical peace building process,” the press release quoted Mollen as saying.

While speaking on the occasion, Peace, Education and Development (PEAD) Foundation Executive Director Sameena Imtiaz said educated women should be engaged to build a pluralistic society.

A brief overview of the activities of WPBN towards building a culture of tolerance and respect was also presented. PEAD Foundation Project Manager Shagufta Khalique moderated the assembly event. Folk rubab music, bangle plating and hand printing also took place at the event.

WPBN is a network initiated by PEAD Foundation in collaboration with NCA to bring women from different faith communities on a uniform platform.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2015.