Female empowerment: Campaign to end gender-based violence

Over 120 activities, including dialogues, seminars and talks, to be organised

LAHORE: The United Nations, in collaboration with social welfare organisations and activists, launched a massive awareness campaign aimed at ending violence against women on Thursday.

Aurat Foundation, a women’s rights group, marked the start of the International 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign by organising an interactive session with journalists to highlight the status of women in society and the importance of the international campaign.

Over 120 activities, including dialogues, seminars and talks would be organised.

A session with media, under the aegis of USAID-funded Gender Equity Programme (GEP), titled ‘Walk in Peace - Books in Hands’ was organised at the foundation’s office, where Aurat Foundation Resident Director Mumtaz Mughal and GEP Chief of Party Younas Khalid spoke about the current state of gender parity and steps needed to improve the situation.

In order to ensure a better future, a secure environment was needed for women and girls, they said, emphasising on safety for girls so that they could acquire education with dignity.

Talking about the programmes of the foundation and GEP, Mumtaz said USAID-funded GEP had been providing grants for the last six years for various initiatives that promote women’s empowerment through national grants.

She added that it’s important to enhance women’s access and knowledge towards their basic fundamental rights.

“The GEP aims at closing the gender gap in Pakistan by proactively supporting the development of women,” she said, appreciating the efforts of GEP and all other small organisations which had been working on different gender issues.

“What is being done is extremely important, but not enough and we would like to mentor our partners in continuing these initiatives.”

Younas informed the audience that GEP with the support of USAID had helped Aurat Foundation in supporting and facilitating women in a variety of ways.

Furthermore, academic projects were also developed under the programme. “This includes a module on gender sensitisation of non- academic staff and curricula on gender and development,” he said, adding these projects would be utilised as part of future engagements with 13 public universities.

The campaign that kicks off on November 25 will end on December 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2016.