International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on the 8th March every year. It is a major day of global celebration of women. Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights (PCSW&HR) committed for the protection of women rights through its platform since last two decades. As usual this year on 8th March 2011 PCSW&HR also celebrated the International Women Day.
To observe the International Women Day, PCSW&HR organized two major ceremonies on 8th March 2011. One at Sialkot and other at Rawalakot Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Ceremony held at Sialkot presided over by Chairman Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori whereas member Punjab Assembly and Chairman Standing Committee on Health Govt. of Punjab Mr. Tahir Mehmood Hundli Advocate was the Chief Guest of that Ceremony. Hundred of men, women from all walks of life, PCSW&HR’s officials and others participated in the ceremony.
Addressing during the ceremony Chairman PCSW&HR Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori and Chief Guest Mr. Tahir Mehmood Hundli Advocate PMA Punjab in their address said that today we are celebrating the International Women Day with the commitment to end violence against women. Public sectors must honour their commitments to prevent violence, bring perpetrators to justice and provide redress to victims.It is our moral obligation to speak out in our families, workplaces and communities so that acts of violence against women may be ceased.
Mr. Noori said that I have quoted so many times in my speeches that “Gender-based violence, or violence against women (VAW), is a major public health and human rights problem throughout the world including Pakistan. Violence against women VAW has profound implications for health but is often ignored. The most common form of violence against women is that performed by a husband or male partner. This type of violence is frequently invisible since it happens behind closed doors, and effectively, when legal systems and cultural norms do not treat as a crime, but rather as a "private" family matter, or a normal part of life. He urged that change in the behavior of males, their active engagement in addressing gender issues, mass level awareness-raising activities in which awareness walks, seminar, workshops, talk shows, etc at grass root level with the involvement of local Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs) and also improvement in service delivery by state and non-state actors will help in addressing the issue at different levels.
Chairman PCSW&HR further said that role of women is very important to strengthen the democracy in Pakistan and without the strengthen of democracy and institutions we can’t prowithout the stregthen of democracy and institutions we cann,t Pakistan tect the women rights. Representation of women in the National and Provincial assemblies is not enough, we also have to involve the women in decision making. All speakers of ceremony also urged that all of us have to play our role to eliminate the violence against women at individual & collective level which is forbidden in all religions as well as ethic point of view.
To celebrate the International Women Day Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights organized second ceremony at Rawala Kot AJ&K where PCSW&HR is carrying out its various projects for the economic empowerment of women thorough vocational, routine life skill and kitchen gardening training. During the ceremony speakers highlighted the women rights and role of our society especially Civil Society to protect the women rights at all level
