Chitral seminar calls for protection of women's rights

Report GH Farooqui
CHITRAL: A one-day seminar on experience sharing regarding women and human rights was organized here by Easy & Equitable Access to Justice Program Chitral. Tehsil Nazim Chitral Sartaj Ahmad Khan was chief guest on the occasion while the ceremony was presided over by Maulana Khaleequz Zaman, Khateeb Shahi Masjid Chitral.
The workshop started with the recitation from the holy Quran. Niaz Ali Shah, Chairman Board of Directors, Legal Awareness Program for Human Rights (LAPH), briefed the stakeholders about issues, challenges and social status of women in present society. He also briefed the participants regarding women rights on legal point of view.
Dr Saleema Hassan, gynecologist and member Board of Director LAPH, said that often parents expressed their dislike in case of delivery of a daughter which is not justified. She said sons and daughters should equally be treated by their parents because they have equal rights. She called for discouraging marriage of girls in very young age.
The tehsil nazim asked the stakeholders to streamline and frame a joint strategy for protection of women rights by involving of all stake holders including religious scholars and women forums. He said education is the only way for women to participate in development of the country and to save themselves from discrimination and frustration. He stressed upon all stakeholders especially women activists to visit different schools and colleges and educate females on their basic rights. He said awareness campaign is a must for protecting their rights. He said lack of opportunities in employment and unavailability of training and skill development centers for women frustrated them and that is why suicide ratio in women is high in Chitral.
He appealed to all NGOs working in Chitral to start concentrated and integrated work on these issues and convey a message to all women so as to minimize their frustrations and to check suicide rates. He also demanded establishment of a women reporting counter at each police station or at least at subdivision and district level where oppressed and aggrieved women could register their complaints easily and without any hesitation.
Khateeb Shahi Mosque Khaleequz Zaman said Islam gave high status to women and ensured their rights over 1,400 years ago. He said there is no chance of violation of women rights in Islam if it was implemented in its real shape. He said this is black propaganda of western people that Islam and Muslims have besieged women and confined them in their houses. He said the West is exploiting women on the pretext of freedom.
A question-answer session was also held. Chairman BoD Niaz Ali Shah thanked all stakeholders. A large number of males and females representing different women forums participated in the seminar.