International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,
25 November 2014
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign that starts on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day. The campaign hopes to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international level. This year’s theme is“Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Gender-Based Violence!
The Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) had organizedwomen Convention on this occasion at Multan Arts Council, in which National Forum of Women with disabilities participated with an inspirational sprit.
The issue of disability is gaining more and more importance all over the world. Women with disabilities are disadvantaged in several key areas when compared with other women, men with disabilities, and the society as a whole. These women face a triple handicap and discrimination due to their disability, gender and developing world status.
Gender-based assumptions and expectations generally place women with disabilities at a disadvantage with respect to substantive enjoyment of rights, such as freedom to act and to be recognized as autonomous, to participate fully in economic, social and political development, and to make decisions concerning their circumstances and conditions.
National Forum of Women with Disabilities participated in the convention, Shahina, Tehmina, naseebbabi, Saba represent the women with disabilities with their slogans
banners “Invisible Women: Violence against Women with Disabilities”, Speak out for girl with Disabilities’ Rights,Women with disabilities Agent of Change, Equality &Inclusion, and Achieving Equality for the future we want.
ZahidaHameedQureshi(National Forum of women with Disabilities) shared the major barrier to employment and other socio-economic benefits for Women with Disabilities in our society continues to be attitudinal barriers; stereotypical thinking and assumption about what women with disabilities can and can’t do. She stressed that the National Forum of women with Disabilities is seriously moving forward to the destination of social inclusion of women with disabilities not only an individual level but also on the other forums such as district government, provincial government, and the government of Pakistan. The basic purpose of the efforts is to build the structure of women with disabilities empowerment on some strong foundations and promote their acceptance in strong manners.
At the end of the activity, a walk was conducted in which many of women with disabilities participated with a zeal and zest. The people from all walks of life also admired this segment of the activity and encouraged National Forum of Women with disabilities on participation and efforts regarding the mainstreaming of women with disabilities.
Moreover, a special recommendation was accepted unanimously regarding the accessibility code to be included in constitutional setting and sent to the government of Punjab that it should be given a unique position in future action plan.