Karachi: Development initiatives and administrative measures at the lower tier of governance such as Union Councils (UC) must be taken in such a way that women are empowered, existing gender disparity is reduced, and women are made aware of their rights.

This was stated on Wednesday by Sindh Local Government Board Secretary Imtiaz Ali Solangi, while addressing the concluding ceremony of a three-day workshop on “Gender-Based Governance System”.

The workshop was organised by the City Institute of Image Management, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDF) and the Sindh government. Among others, the workshop was attended by secretaries of 23 UCs from across the province, government officials and some representatives from NGOs.

Solangi urged officials to carefully record “Nikahnamahs” and other documents related to the rights of women so that women’s rights were not violated. He asked how good governance could be ensured without empowering women and protecting their rights and said that women, particularly in rural areas, were still a vulnerable segment of society.
Source: The News
Date:6/4/2009