Seminar: In rural areas, women themselves responsible for their exploitation

Urge women to work collectively in the face of exploitation.

GILGIT: Women themselves are responsible for their suppression in the rural society of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). This was discussed at a seminar titled “Promoting tolerance and respect for women in society” held here on Sunday. 

The participants discussed the issues being faced by women in far-flung areas and shared their experiences.

They also enacted skits to represent how women often deprive other women by giving preference to men in the society.

The chief guest and adviser to the chief minister Sadia Danish said that they were planning to move a bill in the assembly to ensure the protection of women rights.

However, she said, unless they women collectively, they will always face exploitation from the male-dominated society.

Zohra Saba, a woman who came from Ghangche district of the Baltistan region, said that in her area women have no clue to what are their rights at all.

“It is the women who have to do all the work including agriculture, wood cutting, cooking and washing while the man only rests,” she said. She said that the local women are illiterate for the most part.

Public School Chilas Principal Rohi Gul said that the male-dominated society offered little opportunities for women in education. Wajih Nayab, a woman from Astore, said that her area was far behind in education as compared to the rest of the valleys of G-B.

Published in The Express Tribune, 25^th, 2012.