Seminar on Women Empowerment held

Islamabad

SZABIST Social Sciences Society organised a seminar on ‘Women empowerment’ here on Friday. The aim of the seminar was to raise awareness about crimes against women and to address the notions that perpetuate such discriminatory behaviour.

The students of the department of social sciences, Sayed Arif Hussain (Chairman), Beenish Zehra (Vice Chairman), Navroz Shah (General Secretary), Aurangzaib Kakar (Student Council Security head) coordinated the proceedings.

The event started off with Faisal Rehman (TV Anchor) sharing his experiences with discrimination against women. He stated that the real problem lies in the mindset that will need years to change. Through legislation followed by true implementation however, quick changes can be made. He also said that it always begins with our own selves; respecting females in our own homes, respecting our female class fellows, co-workers etc will help bring greater changes in the society.

The next speaker was Farzana Bari a widely respected human rights activist. She started off with describing empowerment as a step by step process to achieve an end goal. She said that the structures disempowering women need to be looked at first. “Men feel reluctant to empower women as they think it allows them to tilt the balance of power over to their side, which is not true. A key point made was that to truly empower women, all the individuals of a society have to play a role in the process. She ended on the note that ‘Women cannot be empowered unless the society is empowered.’

Dr. Shahida Rehmani (MNA, PPP) brought the audience’s attention to Islamic teachings stating that women are entitled to many rights and liberties. She pointed out that Hazrat Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was an epitome of all good qualities, also being one of the greatest merchants in the Quraish and twice widowed when she proposed to the Prophet (PBUH). This would be seen in a different light according to the cultural views of today. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s efforts for women empowerment were also appreciated by Dr. Shahida .She concluded on the note that if women can stand on her own feet and recognise her rights then nothing can stop her.

The keynote speaker of the event was Bushra Gohar, (Senior Vice President of the Awami National Party), Chairman of the Standing Committee on Women’s Development. She began by saying that empowerment was a patronising word as it insinuated that someone needed to empower someone else. When one talks about women empowerment they label them as mothers, wives, sisters instead of respecting them as humans, she said. Her belief was that the process of empowerment had a long way to go in Pakistan. Many people choose to ignore vital problems such as the matter of honour killings which though, common and seen as a typical practice in underdeveloped areas such as Waziristan and Kohistan, is also being carried out in urban areas as well. Certain bills such as the Domestic Violence Bill and Harassment at Work Place bill have been passed but only with great difficulty. She mentioned that religion is being used as a means of control. However there is potential for achieving an equal balance of power between the sexes only if we can create an environment where men and women are free to discuss, debate and express their views without being afraid. Institutions such as universities fulfil this role quite well. Bushra Gohar ended by stating that women empowerment is, “An uphill struggle and it isn’t easy because no one will come and give you your rights.”