16 DAYS: ‘Men need to play active part’

Speakers says it is a myth that ‘all Pakistani men were violent’.

PESHAWAR:

A seminar titled ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violation’ was held on Thursday, with speakers asking for proactive measures to end violence against women.

They said religion and culture were both misused and misinterpreted, and used to target women, adding it is a myth that ‘all Pakistani men were violent’. In actuality, there is a silent majority of men who disapprove of gender-based violence, but do little to prevent it, stressed the speakers.

They demanded the provincial government to immediately appoint an ombudsperson for cases pertaining to sexual harassment at workplaces, while also asking that bills relating to women’s issues pending in the K-P assembly be tabled on a priority basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2012.