Speakers at a seminar held at the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Tuesday underlined the need for promoting awareness about the pro-women legislation so that women could better understand and protect their rights, available to them under the laws.
The seminar was arranged by the university’s Gender and Women Students Department under the auspices of USAID and Aurat Foundation in connection with the international women day.
It was the part of the lecture series undertaken on initiative of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui to sensitise the faculty members and the students about laws concerning them.
Human Rights Activist Ms. Riffat Butt was the keynote speaker who briefed the participants about the pro-women legislation introduced from 2004 to 2016.
The seminar was aimed at disseminating basic knowledge regarding legislature pertaining to prevention of gender-based violence. The speakers included department of Women Studies Chairperson Dr. Riffat Haq and chairperson History Department AIOU Dr. Samina Awan asserted that the society’s negative mindset about the women should be changed through education and social-financial empowerment. Dignity and honour of the women should be upheld in accordance with human rights, enshrined in the constitutions and the laws.
Riffat Butt noted that there was a better realisation of women’s rights at the government’s level as it reflected from the laws introduced during the last ten years. Legislation regarding honour-killing and the pro-women law recently adopted by the Punjab government were testimony to it. Such laws, she added were most encouraging for the depressed section of the society.
She said that inconsistency in the prevailing laws should be removed for their better implementation so desired results can be achieved. These days women in the country feel more secure and have better understanding to seek their due rights through the court of law, she added.
She said the laws related to domestic-violence and harassment of women at their work place have improved women’s status in the society.
The speakers appreciated Dr. Shahid Siddiqui for focusing on girls’ education and arranging academic activities related to social-economic issues.
