Source: The News
Date: November 25, 2010
A three-day training workshop aimed at developing networks for addressing violence against women, girls and vulnerable groups in flood affected areas concluded here on Wednesday.
Organised by Strengthening Participatory Organisations (SPO) and Sisters Trust Pakistan (STP), the workshop titled ‘Women’s Leadership Role in Flood Affected Area to End Gender Based Violence,’ provided training mainly on tools for addressing women concerns in relation to their rehabilitation and reconstruction requirements. Federal Minister for Human Rights Mumtaz Alam Gilani was the chief guest on the occasion.
These master trainers from eight different districts will now go to their indigenous area to train other women and ultimately form networks that can protect women at the time of relief or rehabilitation after any calamity.
The eight districts included Nowshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Muzzafargarh, Rajanpur, Thatta, Sukker, Naseerabad and Jafferabad. The training made part of the activities conducted on 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence. Through variety of activities, the participants were introduced to the definition and different aspects of gender based violence. They were also taught about the techniques to deal with psychosocial issues that emerge after such situation and ways to provide counselling to the victims especially women and children. Participants that originally belong to flood affected areas also shared their stories. They said that one of the major problem women faced were the provision of separate washrooms. They said that due to conservative social set up, majority of women hesitated to demand for the facility.
They pointed out social discrimination created hurdles in the way of access to aid for women headed households. They said that women networks at community level can help to point out such issues to aid workers so that all vulnerable groups can be involved in relief and rehabilitation activities.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Mumtaz Alam Gilani said that types of human rights violations are different in different parts of the country and culture friendly measures are required to deal with them accordingly.
He said that before the establishment of Ministry of Human Rights, the matters related to human rights were dealt by the Interior Ministry that is the biggest violator of human rights itself. He said that the ministry plans to commemorate human rights week that will start from December 3 and will end at the International Day on Human Rights on December 10.
Highlighting the significance of 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence, Country Director for United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem) Alice Shackleford said that activism should not end with the end of these days, as it is a continuing process. She said that these days are observed to depict that woman rights are the human rights.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day on Violence against Women, and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasise that such violence is a human rights violation. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates, including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.
Sisters Trust Pakistan Executive Director Rehana Hashmi stressed for increasing the role of women and girls in relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation phase through enhanced leadership skills and protection networks. Senator from Balochistan Surrya Amirudin and First Secretary Development of Netherlands Embassy were also present on the occasion.
Link: http://www.thenews.com.pk/25-11-2010/islamabad/17175.htm
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