Gender-based violence termed alarming issue

Minister says laws to protect women would help country progress

MULTAN: Domestic violence and gender discrimination are alarming issues not only in the country but across the world, which violate their rights and restrict their role, Punjab Minister for Women Development Ashifa Riaz Fatayana said on Monday.

The minister expressed these views while speaking at a ceremony held at the Mattitul campus of Women University in connection with Dukhtran-e-Pakistan Vision 2020 on Monday.

The minister asserted that access to justice for women would play a key role in making Pakistan prosperous, adding that the constitution guarantees them equal rights.

"Laws for women rights are very much there in the country. What we need is to sensitise them about these laws and ensure implementation," the women development minister stated.

Articles 8, 24, 25, 27 and 34 of the constitution of Pakistan which are directly related to women rights, she informed those attending the ceremony.

She added that the Punjab government was taking practical steps to include women in the process of national development.

“Pakistan has made headways in improving laws on women rights, including laws against forced marriage, honour killing, acid throwing and harassment against women at workplaces, among others.”

Moreover, she stressed that women had a pivotal role in nurturing their kids.

In her address, Women University Vice Chancellor Dr Uzma Quraishi shed light on different projects being executed in the institution.

Quraishi revealed that the women development department and the varsity were signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which students would be trained in various fields.

Dean of Social Sciences Dr Asmat Naz, Chairman Positive Pakistan Abid Iqbal and a large number of students and faculty members attended the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2020.