A National Seminar titled "Say ‘NO’ to Violence against Women & Girls in Pakistan", organized by the Department of Sociology AND University College for Women Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) IN collaboration with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) was held at Main Campus, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan on November 25, 2021.
On the occasion Dr. Sumera Shams, Chairperson Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms. Sajida Hanif and Ms. Naeema Kishwar, the Honorable Members of the Provincial Assembly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Riffat Sardar Chairperson KPCSW, Ms. Shaheen Naz Saifullah, Honorable member National Assembly of Pakistan, Ms. Mehr Nigar Director Lift Islamabad/Women Rights Activist, Ms. Catlin Poole Program Manager & Gender Equality Specialist Co-Water International, Prof. Dr. Zahid Ali Khan Marwat Pro-Vice Chancellor AWKUM, Dr. Hussain Ali Head of the Sociology Department, Dr. Naseem Raffique, Principal UCW AWKUM were present.
Dr. Sumera Shams, Chairperson Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while adressing the participants stated that women parliamentarians have worked hard and succeeded to pass laws related to women protection in the province. She further stressed that let us all be the champions, advocates and supporters of gender equality.
Shaheen Naz Saifullah, Shared her views that government should maintain zero tolerance for all those who are involved in violence against women & girls.
Addressing to the seminar, Naeema Kishwar shared that Islam is complete code of conduct and our religion well defined the prestigious status of women.
Ms. Mehr Nigar, expressed her views that violence against women & girls is a human rights violation and it should be stopped both in public and private sphere.
Dr. Riffat Sardar, gave a detailed overview of the Commission mandate and its role in advocacy and drafting laws related to women protection in the province.
It is shared that Co-Water International is working in the province with close coordination Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare, Special Education and Women Empowerment Department (SW, SE & WED), KPCSW and P&D Department to increase the political empowerment and enjoyment of rights by women, particularly young and marginalized women and those at-risk in the province. The views shared by Catlin Poole.
Prof. Dr. Zahid Ali Khan Marwat expressed his thanks to all the distinguished guests and appreciated the event organizers.
Dr. Hussain Ali shared an evidence based research findings presentation with the audience. Mr. Abbas Rasheed MPhil scholar department of Sociology also presented his research findings on violence against women & girls in Malakand Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the participants.
THE staff and students of University College for Women actively participated in the event and performed a role play to highlight the violence against women & Girls in Pakistan.
