Art and speeches focus on gender-based violence

Participants highlight the role of women and the menace of outdated customs in society.

PESHAWAR:

Creative arts and debates underlined pertinent issues at the closing ceremony of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence on Monday.

Students from various departments of the University of Peshawar participated in the event, in which they displayed their paintings that highlighted violence against women in a patriarchal society.

Muhammad Zakir, who bagged the first position in the painting competition, focused on the outdated Swara custom, wherein a girl is given in marriage to settle a dispute between rival families. He dubbed the custom “a sheer violation” of human rights. “My painting shows that these girls are innocent but no one cares for their rights,” he added.

In her speech, Kanwal from the Home Economics Department underlined the role of women as mothers, daughters and sisters. Moreover, some students presented a tableau on the theme of feminism.

At the end, Dean of Social Science Department, Naeemur Rehman Khattak, awarded certificates and shields to the participants and winners respectively. The event was organised by Blue Veins Institute of Social Work, Sociology and Gender Studies.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2012.