Below is an article published by Online- International News Network

Islamabad: Participants of seminar unanimously called to prevent violence against women, several national and international treaties and commitments have been agreed upon, now this is the time to implement them in their full letter and spirit. 

The seminar was organised by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) on the Role of Jirga’s in perpetuating violence against women in Gilgit Baltistan (GB). This seminar was first of its kind in the present history of the region, before this event, the topic was considered taboo to discuss or debate.

 The seminar was attended by large number of people representing government’s institutions, legislatures, police department, academia, NGO’s, media, and civil society. Speaker GB assembly Mr Wazir Baig participated as a chief guest, whereas, deputy speaker Mr.Jamil Ahmed attended the event as guest of honor.   Ms. Tahira Noor welcomed the participants and applauded their overwhelming presence on that occasion. She said, to prevent violence against women, several national and international treaties and commitments have been agreed upon, now this is the time to implement them in their full letter and spirit.  Israr from HRCP presented facts and findings about the violence against women in the region and highlighted the factors that contribute in carrying on the nuisance of violence inflicted upon women and girls. 

He said, crimes against women like rape, honour killing, forced marriages, murder, suicide and harassment are so rampant in our society but media is not vibrant or sensitize enough to highlight them and pave the way for law enforcing agencies to apprehend the culprits and bring them to book.

Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal talked about ending violence against women, Pakistan history, and women’s rights and highlighted the issues revolving around women. She stressed upon changing the mindset of people and asked women’s studies institutes, universities and universities to play their role. She spoke about Islam and history about Women’s rights- right to marry by her own will and stressed upon media as well as assembly to relay this message and to create awareness movements and to educate the people through radio messages.

 Ms Anis Haroon particularly spoke about the Anti -Sexual Harassment Act 2010 and Women Protection Act 2006. She urged Gilgit-Baltistan Government to setup Women’s Development Ministry and Provincial Commission on the Status of Women. She mentioned that this was already in place in KPK. In the end, the speaker and deputy speaker GB assembly addressed the gathering and they both were unanimously in their call to end all sorts of crimes against women. They said, the women of our region enjoy special status as mothers, sisters and daughters in our families, communities and cultural systems, and we will not tolerate any injustice or inhuman attitudes towards them.