Gender-based violence spikes in climate emergencies: experts

Shehla Raza highlighted the need to build climate-resilient infrastructure to protect women, particularly in crises

KARACHI:

The Sindh Commission on Status of Women (SCSW), UNFPA and Pathfinder International jointly organised a panel discussion on 'Crisis Within a Crisis: Climate Emergencies and Violence Against Women' recently at Movenpick Hotel.

The session was held as part of the series of events being held in Sindh, Pakistan and globally in light of 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. SCSW Chairperson Nuzhat Shirin, UNFPA representative in Sindh Bayramgul Garabayeva and Pathfinder International Senior Technical Advisor Dr Zaib Dahar welcomed the audience.

Minister for Women Development Shehla Raza and Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Mohammad Ismail Rahoo joined the event as chief guests.

Shehla Raza highlighted the need to build climate resilient infrastructure to protect women from GBV, particularly in times of crisis.

She also called for a change of the collective behaviour in society for extending support to victims of abuse and violence.

Mohammad Ismail Rahoo emphasised upon the economic empowerment of women and protection of their livelihoods to make them less vulnerable to GBV.

Other distinguished guests and panellists included Veerji Kohli, Special Assistant to CM, Anjum Iqbal Jumani, Secretary Women Development Departmenta, Imdad Hussain Siddiqui, Director Operations PDMA, Dr Waqar Memon, Director MIS, Department of Health, Behzad Amin Memon, Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning and Development Department, Renuka Swami, Program Analyst UNFPA, Shanzae Asif, Program Manager, Legal Aid Society.