Women struggle will continue for just, peace and equality: Nigar Ahmed

Lahore: Women struggle will continue for just, peace and equality. February 12^th marks the 32^nd anniversary of the momentous challenge to General Zia Ul Haq’s military government and his ‘Islamization’ process. On the 12^th of February 1983, women in Lahore broke the deafening public silence against the military regime by protesting on the Mall. The women were beaten by the authorities and mass arrests took place but these women resolved to continue their struggle. That day the women’s movement laid claim to its place in history for the struggle for equal rights and a democratic and just dispensation for all Pakistani citizens, Member Women Action Forum and renowned women rights activist Mahnaz Rafi said.

Nigar Ahmed, Executive Director Aurat Foundation said that “12^th Feb, Pakistani National Women Day” is celebrated to remind the Pakistani women’s movement’s courage and bravery to fight against violence and discriminatory laws and treatments which are still persistent to this day. She stressed that there is a need to create a widespread awareness and commitment for a just, democratic and caring society in Pakistan, where women and men are recognized as equals, with the right to lead their lives with self-respect and dignity.

Women Rights Activist and Resident Director, AF Mumtaz Mughal said that laws are the reflection of the values of society. Women are struggling for attaining more and more legal protection and empowerment. There are many factors responsible for the poor protection of women rights, lack of education, rigid values system, absence of proper implementation of the laws and complex judicial system. Many steps have taken to improve the status of women which are remarkable but there is a need of devising a mechanism for implementation of these laws.

Muhammad Tahseen, Executive Director, South Asia Partnership Pakistan said that 12^th February throughout the country to acknowledge the achievements of women excelling in different fields of life.  Status and rights of women is still unchanged. Discriminatory laws exist and women social, political, cultural rights and customary practices are going continue in every part of Pakistan. Muh. Tahseen also acknowledged the potential work of women rights organization towards getting women empowerment.

Celebrating women’s movement contributions, women leaders, gathered from different districts of Punjab, paid a tribute to honor Shehla Zia, founder member of WAF & AF and human rights defender who is no longer with us, for her struggle and contributions for the safeguarding women rights, struggle for legal protection of women’s rights and re-appeal discriminatory laws i.e. Hudood Ordinance, honor killing, amendments in personal laws, sexual violence etc.

In this event, a large number of women from different walk of life across province participated and expressed their solidarity with defenders facing violence because of their work for promoting human rights. They said that in line with CEDAW recommendations progress is still too slow. The projection according to World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2015 is that without change in the current trajectories it will take 118 years to close the gender gap.