ISLAMABAD. The participants of a meeting on “violence against women” on Wednesday called for a positive change in the society’s approach towards women to end violence against them.

The meeting was organised by Rozan, a non-government organisation in collaboration with Sungi Development Foundation to mark the Human Rights Day.

The participants condemned the undue and illogical restrictions imposed on women, by the society and stressed the need for the equal treatment for both men and women in all fields of life. “Women should not be restricted inside of their homes without their will rather they should be encouraged to show their expertise in various fields of life,” they said. They said that women must be equipped with the entrepreneur, technical, leadership and other skills in order to improve the standard of living and to promote gender equality at work place.

“Women comprise more than 50 per cent of the whole Population and it was not at all possible for a country to progress without the participation of women,” they added. They condemned the suppression of women by the parents, in-laws and the society, and called for the active implementation of laws that ensure the rights of women. “The law enforcement agencies should play their role in ensuring the implementation of laws and for giving punishment to those who disobey the law,” they said. “There were no glimpses of the concept dowry in Islam but the people were still following it as it was an easiest way to grasp luxury from the girl’s side”, they added.

Source: Daily Times

Date:12/13/2007