NOWSHERA: The violence against women is defaming the Pakistani society and the media should play its role in curbing the practice.

The was stated by speakers at a workshop on ‘Violence Against Women and the Role of Media’ on Sunday. The workshop was organised by a non-governmental organisation, Social Mobilization and Action for Rural Development (SMARD), for the media and civil society representatives.

SMARD chief Sajjad Khan said the workshop was part of a larger campaign. “We can end the violence against women and honour killings. In this regard, over 20,000 people would be trained and sensitised on women rights.” He said the SMARD would continue activities till 2011 for solution of women problems in Nowshera with help of the Oxfam.

Giving an overview of the violence against women in the district in 2007, Sajjad said 131 murder cases were registered with eight police stations under Section 302 of the CrPC. The victims included 124 men, 24 women and two small girls. He said it was a matter of concern that their male family members — brothers, sons and husbands — killed the women. He regretted that out of 248 culprits, only 71 were arrested.

The SMARD chief said that the murder cases of women were mostly going unreported and that was an impediment to compiling an exact figure of the victims of violence. He said most of the causes of the murders were domestic problems. He requested the media to help bring the violence against women down.
Source: The News
Date:1/7/2008