Handicraft exhibition marks International Women’s Day at UoP

PESHAWAR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, brought together the work of indigenous female artisans and students of Pakistan and Afghanistan in a handicraft and art exhibition at PUTA Hall, University of Peshawar on Tuesday.

The exhibition was organised to commemorate the International Women’s Day – being observed globally to recognise women’s contributions and celebrate their social, economic, cultural and political achievements. This year’s theme is “think equal, build smart and innovate for change”.

The exhibition displayed delicate Pakistani and Afghan handicrafts featuring handmade dresses and jewellery. Pakistan and Afghan students also portrayed their imagination through their colours at the exhibition.

Senator Dr Meher Taj Roghani was the chief guest at the occasion. The event was attended by UNHCR Head in Peshawar Dinesh Shrestha, UN Women Provincial Head Zainab Qaiser Khan, Afghan Refugees Commissioner Muhammad Abbas Khan, KP Assembly Women Parliamentary Caucus Chairwoman Maleeha Asghar Khan, students and faculty members of University of Peshawar and officials from government, UN agencies and NGOs.

Shrestha said: “UNHCR builds women’s resilience and strengths, helps them improve their lives, as well as those of their families and communities, every single day.”

Zainab Qaiser Khan said that UN Women Pakistan is focused on working with a variety of public and private partners to create an environment where women and girls can benefit from equal social and economic development opportunities live a life free from violence in private and public spaces, and violence survivors can access quality essential services.

A photography competition was also held and prizes were distributed among the top three winners.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2019.