Women should struggle for comprehensive solutions to build a society based on peace, democracy, rule of law, justice, equality and freedom, said Noble Peace Laureate Tawakkol Addel-Salam Karman on Tuesday.
Addressing the Emerging Young Women Leaders Congress 2015, the first Muslim Arab woman to win the Noble Peace Prize said that women should raise their voice against injustices, corruption, illiteracy and poverty in the society.
The Emerging Young Women Leaders Congress 2015 was organised by Institute of Peace & Diplomatic Studies (IPD) and Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSP) in partnership with Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences in Pakistan (IUCPSS) and National Testing Service Pakistan (NTS).
Karman said that governments, institutions and laws should guarantee active participation of women in all walks of life. In this regard, special quota should be reserved.
“In my opinion, the quota for women should be 60%” she said. “Political parties should also ensure effective representation of women in general elections. Women must struggle for inclusion of women’s social and economic liberty in the constitution and law,” she continued.
“Pakistan is country of Fatima Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto and Malal Yousafzai and women from all over the world especially Muslim women are proud of their dedicated contribution,” Karman remarked.
She was of the view that economic liberty was the only way to achieve the desired goals aiming at women’s empowerment. She emphasised the young women to make maximum efforts for bringing about positive changes in the society.
IPD President Farhat Asif, in her remarks, shared the objectives of the congress and shed light on the low representation of young women in various spheres of life in Pakistan.
She extended thanks to the organisers and praised the efforts of IPD, HSF and IUCPSS for promoting peace and democratic values in the society.
Hanns Seidel Foundation Resident Representative Kristof W.Duwaerts lauded the efforts and contribution of Pakistani women for promoting peace and democracy.
The event was attended by diplomats, women parliamentarians and party leaders, senior government officials and young women from all over the county.
