‘Denying women rights a form of violence’

MULTAN:

Vice Chancellor Women’s University Multan (WMU) Dr Uzma Qureshi said on Sunday that society should offer due rights to the women, as it is vital to direct the country towards progress and prosperity. "No society can make progress until it does not offer due rights to women."

She expressed this during the ongoing 16-day seminar on Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, jointly launched by the NGO Roshni Welfare Organization and WMU. Dr Uzma stated that women should recognize their rights and should be given the right to freedom of expression. She maintained that the state enjoyed the status of mother for its citizens, especially women, so it should strictly adhere to laws pertaining to women's security and safety.

CEO Roshni stated that depriving women of their rights was in itself a form of violence, highlighting the physical and mental violence women undergo in society. "Provision of rights to women is of vital importance to ensure a healthy society," he added.

Dr Rafeeda Nawaz also addressed the session and said that the government should play its important role in the delivery of rights to women, highlighting the need to ensure strict enforcement of laws on gender-based crime, as well as punishments for violence against women."

During the seminar, a documentary depicting the different types of violence against women and laws to discourage violence was shown to students to spread awareness.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2022.