Conference on rural women day: Food security and women’s livelihood discussed

The two-day event took place at Lok Virsa, celebrating the International Rural Women’s Day.

ISLAMABAD:

Food security, prices and women’s livelihood came under discussion during the second day of the fourth annual conference on International Rural Women’s Day here on Sunday.

The two-day event took place at Lok Virsa, celebrating the internationally-recognised day with colourful stalls and awareness raising speeches.

The first four sessions of the conference took place on Saturday whereas the last two sessions were held on Sunday.

The sessions had different agendas from the place of women in district and provincial budgets to factoring in women’s participation in disaster mitigation.

Aftab Alam, from Action Aid International highlighted the issues of food security, prices and women’s livelihood during a related session held on Sunday.

Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) Founder and Chairperson Sameena Nazir gave the conference overview and resolution. Awards to recognise rural women in Pakistan were presented by Norwegian Ambassador Cecilie Landsverk.

These dynamic sessions were followed by interesting activities like folk theatre by Patan Lok Natak. Various stalls were set up by a number of humanitarian organizations showcasing arts and handicrafts, embroidery and paintings crafted by rural women themselves. “I bring artists from Cholistan every year so they are provided with the leverage they deserve,” Razia Malik, a participant from Bahawalpur, stated.

Recognizing the role of rural women has become increasingly important; 77.4% of rural women are engaged in brown collar jobs (service workers, shop and market sales workers, skilled agricultural and fishery workers, craft and related trade workers) as compared to 61% of male population engaged in similar work. Unfortunately, their work goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Events like these develop a sense of awareness among the general public to promote equal opportunities for rural women.

Ghazala Gola, Balochistan minister for women development, Sitara Ayaz, K-P minister for women development, Dr Nafisa Shah, Secretary Women Parliamentarian Caucus and Norwegian Ambassador Cecilie Landsverk attended the conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2011.