KARACHI – Violence against women and children is a stark reality but still a vast number of cases go unreported and thus unpunished because society does not take it as an issue of priority.
There is a dire need to curb the violence against vulnerable segments of society, in particular women and children, at all levels and government and civil society organizations (CSOs) must play a positive role in this regard.
This was the consensus that emerged at a seminar on Child Abuse and Harassment of Women at the Workplace, jointly organized by the Kutchi Memon Thinkers Forum and the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) on September 7.
Speaking on the occasion Zia Ahmed Awan President, LHRLA, said that illiteracy was an important factor leading to the major incidents of violence against children and women. In a society like ours, he observed, social norms and customs were the basic reasons behind violence in a male-dominated society.
He was of the view that every religion teaches us respect for women both within the home and at public places, and, of course, at the workplace. However men often harass women. That is a reality.
He informed the participants that due to certain reasons, men often target women, adding that a number of laws existed for the protection of women in the country. Unfortunately, he said, women are ignorant of these laws and as such, fall victim to violence.
The law, he said, gives equal protection to women and children but due to ignorance of the law, inept law enforcement agencies, and an ineffective judiciary system, violence against children was on the rise across the country.
In Karachi alone, 2180 children have been abused over the past four years. He said that 778 children were sexually abused, 819 cases of kidnapping were reported, 289 cases of suicide, 77 cases of child trafficking, 58 children were burnt during the current year.
Sabiha Shah, Secretary, Kutchi Memom Thinkers Forum said that the main objective of organising the seminar to create awareness among the community members about the protection services presently working for the social cause. Others who spoke on the occasion were Uroos-e-Sehar, coordinator, working Women’s Support Centre (WWSC).
Source: The News
Date:9/8/2004
