Baloch women’s role in political process urged

Provincial govt urged to make the provincial commission on the status of women functional

QUETTA:

Women rights activists Zarghona Naseeb, Yasmeen Mughal and Sana Durrani have said that in order to change the plight of women in Balochistan, it is necessary to involve them in the political process at all levels.

They urged the provincial government to make the provincial commission on the status of women functional as soon as possible as in other provinces of the country it was already functional.

Speaking at a press conference at Quetta Press Club on Wednesday, they demanded that the bill for rehabilitation and resettlement of acid-affected women should be brought in full force in the assembly and women MPAs should be given effective representation in the provincial cabinet.

“The bill should be passed by the Balochistan Assembly immediately,” they said. Zarghoona Naseeb said that every year 16 days of activism against gender-based violence is observed starting from November 25 till December 10.

“These 16 days are celebrated all over the world as a symbol of the struggle against violence and oppression against women,” they added.

This year the campaign will be launched on November 25 at a function held at the office of Balochistan Rural Support Program (BRSP).

The campaign will end on December 10, 2021, on the International Human Rights Day.

Conducting discussions with young students from different districts against gender-based violence a mega gathering will also be organized at the end of the campaign, she maintained.

She said that if women re[1]ally want to be given their place in the society, then they have to be strengthened politically, educationally, administratively and financially, adding that until now women have not been considered as human beings. They have been subjected to various forms of violence.

“Due to the current situation, the incidence of domestic violence against women has increased and the law against harassment of women has been enacted in 2016. In this regard, committees should be formed in the departments and public awareness should be ensured,” she said.