calls for special package for women of quake-hit areas.
Report and images: Amir udDin Mughal
Muzaffarabad: March 8, 2008:
The Kashmir Women Conference (KWC) has called upon the United Nations (UN) and other international human rights organisations to play their role for the recovery of disappeared Kashmiris who had been vanished without trace since the beginning of the armed struggle in Indian occupied Kashmir and after the devastating earthquake in Pakistani part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir in 2005.
The Kashmir Women Conference (KWC) was held on the eve of the International Women’s Day, under the aegis of Press for Peace (PFP) and Aurat Foundation. Both the NGOs are well known for their struggle towards the protection of human rights and empowerment of women in Jammu & Kashmir.The KWC was chaired by Mrs Tanveer Latif, Chairperson Press for Peace (PFP) Women’s Wing, while Advisor AJK Government Shama Malik represented Prime Minster Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan who was invited as Chief Guest on this occasion but could not join due to his official engagements.The conference was addressed by Shagufta Mustafa, Chairpeson Aurat Foundation, Professor Taqdees Gillani, Chairperson HOPE, Najma Shakoor, Chairperson Women Welfare Organizatioin, Sakina Bukhari, Prof Hafiza Rehman, Begum Kifyat Naqvi, Irum Jillani, Madhia Khurshid and several other representatives of civil society organisations.
The PFP’s central office bearers including Amir-ud-Din Mughal, Raja Wasim, Nighat Choudhry, Aurengzeb and Sumera Beigh also addressed on the occasion.
The joint declaration of the conference was read out by Raja Wasim, Senior Coordinator Press for Peace.The declaration demanded that United Nations and other international human rights organizations should play their role to investigate the cases of missing Kashmiris in Indian held Kashmir and alleged abduction of young girls in the quake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir.
The declaration expressed dissatisfaction and resentment over the deplorable living conditions of women on both sides of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and called upon the concerned government departments to constitute revolutionary steps for the empowerment and welfare of the women, including: the establishment of a women university, allocation of special quota for women in public services, provision of medical facilities in rural areas, provision of grants and loans for skilled women and allocation of 33 per cent special seats in AJK assembly for women to ensure women participation in policy formulation and implementation.It demanded “inclusion of Kashmiri women in All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) for the peaceful and just settlement of Kashmir conflict according to the wishes of women who are the major victims of the conflict.”More than 500 women delegates including NGO and civil society activists, political workers, parliamentarians, university students from Neelum, Bagh, Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad districts participated the event and expressed their solidarity with women of marginalized nations on International Women’s Day.Addressing the conference, Advisor AJK Government Shama Malik said that the government would increase seats reserved for women in Azad Kashmir Assembly and more educational and vocational institutes would be established in each union council to provide better educational facilities to the girls.Tanvir Latif, Chairperson
Women Wing PFP said that Islam gave rights to women many centuries ago, however, it was the need of the day to implement the Islamic rules with letter and spirit so that women could obtain an honourable position in the society.Appreciating the role of women after the earthquake in October 2005, she said that despite the loss of their relatives, women in the quake hit areas helped other victims with commendable courage and devotion that had created unique and appreciable image of the Kashmiri women. She said that the women were ignored by the government in rehabilitation process which was creating a sense of deprivation and depression among women of these areas.
Shagufta Mustafa Qureshi,chairperson Aurat Foundtion said that role of women in social sector could not be fathomed with mere slogans and without giving them due space in the society. She said that the vision of a skilled and green Kashmir could not be materialized without the active participation of the womenfolk. Renowned Scholar Prof Taqdees Gillani held that the consultation and participation of women in policy and decision making was amongst women’s basic rights and “we will continue our struggle to achieve our basic equal rights.”She said that in both sides of Kashmir women have been given nominal representation in governments and administrative set up which was a negation of the women’s rights.
Raja Wasim Khan and Amir Udin Mughal, the PFP office bearers pledged to continue their collective efforts with the collaboration of other NGOs and civil society entities for the uplifting of women.
On this occasion Press for Peace distributed the Humanity Awards among the activists and volunteers to recognize their selfless and glaring services for the victims of earthquake in the field of Education. Those who earned the decorations included Miss Sumera, Miss Nighat, Miss Shagufta, Miss Nashat Mughal, Miss Farzana, Miss Zahida Zaheer Jagwal, Miss Irum Jillani, Miss Noreen, Miss Komal, and Jalaludin Mughal.The gathering also offered Fateha for the departed soul of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Report and images: Amir udDin Mughal
Muzaffarabad: March 8, 2008:
The Kashmir Women Conference (KWC) has called upon the United Nations (UN) and other international human rights organisations to play their role for the recovery of disappeared Kashmiris who had been vanished without trace since the beginning of the armed struggle in Indian occupied Kashmir and after the devastating earthquake in Pakistani part of the state of Jammu & Kashmir in 2005.The Kashmir Women Conference (KWC) was held on the eve of the International Women’s Day, under the aegis of Press for Peace (PFP) and Aurat Foundation. Both the NGOs are well known for their struggle towards the protection of human rights and empowerment of women in Jammu & Kashmir.The KWC was chaired by Mrs Tanveer Latif, Chairperson Press for Peace (PFP) Women’s Wing, while Advisor AJK Government Shama Malik represented Prime Minster Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan who was invited as Chief Guest on this occasion but could not join due to his official engagements.The conference was addressed by Shagufta Mustafa, Chairpeson Aurat Foundation, Professor Taqdees Gillani, Chairperson HOPE, Najma Shakoor, Chairperson Women Welfare Organizatioin, Sakina Bukhari, Prof Hafiza Rehman, Begum Kifyat Naqvi, Irum Jillani, Madhia Khurshid and several other representatives of civil society organisations.
The PFP’s central office bearers including Amir-ud-Din Mughal, Raja Wasim, Nighat Choudhry, Aurengzeb and Sumera Beigh also addressed on the occasion.
The joint declaration of the conference was read out by Raja Wasim, Senior Coordinator Press for Peace.The declaration demanded that United Nations and other international human rights organizations should play their role to investigate the cases of missing Kashmiris in Indian held Kashmir and alleged abduction of young girls in the quake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir.The declaration expressed dissatisfaction and resentment over the deplorable living conditions of women on both sides of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and called upon the concerned government departments to constitute revolutionary steps for the empowerment and welfare of the women, including: the establishment of a women university, allocation of special quota for women in public services, provision of medical facilities in rural areas, provision of grants and loans for skilled women and allocation of 33 per cent special seats in AJK assembly for women to ensure women participation in policy formulation and implementation.It demanded “inclusion of Kashmiri women in All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) for the peaceful and just settlement of Kashmir conflict according to the wishes of women who are the major victims of the conflict.”More than 500 women delegates including NGO and civil society activists, political workers, parliamentarians, university students from Neelum, Bagh, Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad districts participated the event and expressed their solidarity with women of marginalized nations on International Women’s Day.Addressing the conference, Advisor AJK Government Shama Malik said that the government would increase seats reserved for women in Azad Kashmir Assembly and more educational and vocational institutes would be established in each union council to provide better educational facilities to the girls.Tanvir Latif, Chairperson
Women Wing PFP said that Islam gave rights to women many centuries ago, however, it was the need of the day to implement the Islamic rules with letter and spirit so that women could obtain an honourable position in the society.Appreciating the role of women after the earthquake in October 2005, she said that despite the loss of their relatives, women in the quake hit areas helped other victims with commendable courage and devotion that had created unique and appreciable image of the Kashmiri women. She said that the women were ignored by the government in rehabilitation process which was creating a sense of deprivation and depression among women of these areas.Shagufta Mustafa Qureshi,chairperson Aurat Foundtion said that role of women in social sector could not be fathomed with mere slogans and without giving them due space in the society. She said that the vision of a skilled and green Kashmir could not be materialized without the active participation of the womenfolk. Renowned Scholar Prof Taqdees Gillani held that the consultation and participation of women in policy and decision making was amongst women’s basic rights and “we will continue our struggle to achieve our basic equal rights.”She said that in both sides of Kashmir women have been given nominal representation in governments and administrative set up which was a negation of the women’s rights.
Raja Wasim Khan and Amir Udin Mughal, the PFP office bearers pledged to continue their collective efforts with the collaboration of other NGOs and civil society entities for the uplifting of women.
On this occasion Press for Peace distributed the Humanity Awards among the activists and volunteers to recognize their selfless and glaring services for the victims of earthquake in the field of Education. Those who earned the decorations included Miss Sumera, Miss Nighat, Miss Shagufta, Miss Nashat Mughal, Miss Farzana, Miss Zahida Zaheer Jagwal, Miss Irum Jillani, Miss Noreen, Miss Komal, and Jalaludin Mughal.The gathering also offered Fateha for the departed soul of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
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