Poster competition: Youngsters highlight suppression of women

Competition was organised as part of UN-sanctioned 16 Days of Activism ongoing campaign to stop violence against women

ISLAMABAD:

Students from various institutions highlighted the issues being faced by women through a poster competition following the “One Billion Rising Campaign” to end violence against women.

The competition was organised by Women’s Organisation for Rights and Development (WORD) at Lok Virsa Heritage Museum on Tuesday as part of the UN-sanctioned 16 Days of Activism ongoing campaign to stop violence against women. Hundreds of students from seven universities in the twin cities participated by displaying posters highlighting the role of women in society and violence against them.

“This basic objective of the competition is to make students aware of violence against women,” said Aqsa Khan, executive director of WORD.

She said over a hundred students from 10 universities took part in this competition, with students from seven universities and schools eventually being shortlisted for display. Their institutions include National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Bahria University, Iqra University, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), and Roots School System.



“I think this is a positive step to engage students and to keep them aware regarding violence against women’,’ said Ambar Ali from FJWU, who got first position.  She suggested that this kind of competition should be held in the rural areas of the country, where women are still unaware of their constitutional rights.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Khalid Javed appreciated the student’s performance. “I believe this kind of healthy competition would definitely have a positive impact on society in stopping violence against women,” he added.

After the competition, a documentary highlighting the role of women in society was screened and was well received by the audience.



“There is dire need to mobilise students by organising such competitions, as they encourage everyone to stop violence against women,” said Haleema Habib, a student from Roots International College, who got the second position.

Sameena Nazir, executive director of Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA), said it is a positive sign that a large numbers of students participated. “There was a time when nobody talked about women issues, but now things have changed and people are [more] aware. Still, there is a long way to go to stop violence against women,” she added.

Those who received shields and certificates were Amber Ali, Ume Ayiman Khan, Haleema Habib, Syed Rashid Mahmood and Gohar Aftab.

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