Gender equality leads to greater productivity, growth

ISLAMABAD:

Gender equality can lead to greater productivity and growth in countries.

This was stated by Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner Joanne Frederiksen on Saturday at the inaugural workshop on raising awareness of violence against women by encouraging gender-sensitive reporting.

“Gender-based violence is a shared challenge,” Frederiksen said, adding that “There has been an alarming increase in violence against women during the lockdowns to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).”

The envoy further said that role of media is important in challenging traditional social and cultural norms and attitudes that condone violence against women.

Frederiksen said that promoting equality and the rights of women and girls are central to Australia’s development, economic and bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.

Australian journalist and advocate for gender equity Virginia Haussegger joined women Pakistani journalists and legal expert in the workshops to share experiences about the transformative role media can play in preventing violence against women and girls.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2020.