Women’s digital inclusion stressed

Speakers say technology can aid in filing harassment complaints online

PESHAWAR:

 Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment at Workplace, Rukhshanda Naz has emphasized the need for cost-effective technology, including mobile devices, to enable women file complaints online while staying at home.

The use of technology has provided women with means to report relevant issues to the Ombudsperson through their cell phones without fear, she said while addressing a provincial consultation on ‘Digital Safety for Women & Children in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa’ here.

The event was organised to mark the International Women’s Day by non-governmental organization Aawaz II in collaboration with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women, the Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment at the Workplace and the provincial Child Protection and Welfare Commission here in Peshawar on Tuesday.

The event was attended by dozens of rights activists.

Deputy Chief, Child Protection and Welfare Commission Ijaz Khan stressed the importance of using mobile devices while keeping safety measures in mind.

He further suggested organising awareness-raising sessions to address online harassment.

Amna Durrani, Director of Programmes at KPCSW highlighted that information accessed through the internet or phone is known as digital inclusion.

Deputy Director FIA Network Security Muhammad Akram Mughal stated that overall, there were 15 FIA stations in the country and three stations in K-P province: one each in Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan and Abbottabad.

He said that there were 159,187 complaints received by the cyber crime wing of FIA from the entire country of which 1,600 applications were addressed and resolved this year.

Secretary, KPCSW, Robina Haider said in her concluding remarks that women are keen to use mobiles but still face harassment at all levels.

Though the laws exist, people are not aware of cybercrime, she observed, adding that the event brought together more than 80 social activists from Swabi, Haripur, Swat, Battagram, Mansehra, Mardan, Charsadda, Kohat and Peshawar.

She maintained that the consultation was aimed at promoting safer online spaces for women and children by increasing awareness of online gender-based violence (GBV), including its types and trends.

The event facilitated discussions on responding to and reporting online GBV, raising awareness about government regulations and protection mechanisms, and exploring the role of Aawaz II community structures and activists in preventing online GBV.

During her remarks, Rashida Dohad of the Omar Asghar Khan Foundation stated that Aawaz II strives to tackle discriminatory gender norms in Punjab and K-P.

She also highlighted the significance of the event which was linked to International Women’s Day.