The second National Conference of South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) Pakistan chapter concluded with an expression of severe concern over the attack on Malala Yousafzai and her school mates as well as growing violence against women and urged the government to realise its responsibilities for ensuring protection to women without discrimination.
The conference was held at Bhurbhan, Murree and was attended by a large number of women working in media from all over the country. South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) President Imtiaz Allam, Tanzeela Mazhar, Ghareeda Farooqi, Farzana Ali and others addressed the inaugural session. The participants declared Malala as an inspiration and symbol of hope. Through a declaration, the SAWM expressed resentment over the attack on Malala and condemned all crimes and discrimination in all forms against women and children in Pakistan. The SAWM further applauded and endorsed the courage, persistence and genuineness of Malala and her colleagues’ mission for education, for the right to life and peaceful environment and equal opportunities regardless of gender, creed and ethnicity. Disappointment was shown at the conference over the timidity and criminal negligence of the government and state authorities who had not been performing their constitutional and legal duties to protect the life and property of the people. It was declared that the state had allowed terrorist outfits to create safe havens for themselves. The day long session also discussed issues relating to government, religious forces and other social groups’ policies involving women and said, “We take serious exception to and reject the false justifications, misuse of religion by pseudo pacifists and apologists, including derogatory and inhuman reactions and campaigns launched by certain mullahs and politicians with vested interests providing excuses for terrorism and religious extremism. Gender discrimination and prejudices against women, in general, working women, girls and female students and women journalists in particular show that we are perturbed over efforts conducted through the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament and PEMRA to protect women as both cause and effect of obscene, perverse, sexist and stereotypical approaches.”