Agricultural women call for climate justice, occupational safety in Matiari

HYDERABAD: A programme to observe International Women’s Day was held in Matiari on Saturday where over 70 female agricultural workers convened to demand climate justice and occupational safety in the agriculture sector.

The programme was organised by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) with the collaboration of Commonwealth Foundation in order to let women associated with the agricultural sector voice their concerns over unfair wages, unsafe working conditions and the growing impact of climate change on their livelihoods.

Women’s rights activist Shahnaz Sheedi addressed the gathering, stressing the urgent need for policy reforms to ensure that women agricultural workers were protected under the labour laws and climate resilience programmes.

Meanwhile, the Women's Action Forum celebrated International Women's Day at the Cafe Khanabadosh Writer's Café in Hyderabad.

The participants emphasised the need for freedom and equality of women. Amar Sindhu, leader of the Women's Action Forum, said there a change had taken place in Sindh and people distributed sweets to express their joy on the birth of girls.

She said that everyone must work together to ensure that women had the right to education, marriage of their choice, and employment, so that they were not exploited.

Participants also lit candles to observe International Women's Day at the programme.

The plan to construct six canals from the Indus River was also opposed at the event as the participants denounced it by singing Sindhi songs.