Rural women learn ways to fight violence

Training was organised as part of the international “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” campaign.

ISLAMABAD:

Over two dozen women from rural areas of Punjab and the federal capital took part in a day-long training on Tuesday to learn ways to reject and reduce violence against women.

The training was organised in Islamabad by the Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) as part of the international “16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” campaign.

The participants were briefed on Pakistani laws against sexual harassment, acid crimes, exchange marriages and inheritance rights which women can use to take legal actions if they face violence.

The women made a list of things women and girls can do to be safe at homes and at work places. They also formed an action plan to share the information they learnt at the training with other women to mobilize support for ending violence against women. Participants demanded the Pakistani parliament pass a law to criminalise domestic violence.

Sameena Nazir, executive director of PODA, said an honest effort is needed to understand the physical and psychological effects of violence on women. Nazir said girls should be taught to reject violence from an early age.

“Many girls in Pakistan find it hard to stop an attacker if someone threatens them at home,” she said. “That is why we need to empower girls from an early age, [so] that they can end violence.”

PODA is a women’s rights organisation which focuses on the rural areas of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2012.