Secretary Punjab Women Development Department (WDD), Sumaira Samad has said that there was need to break away the patriarchal mindset and treat women equally in order to ensure balance in society.
Outlining the initiatives during the 16 days of activism to combat gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls at her office here on Tuesday, she said male-dominated social structures were the cause behind the rampant exploitation and violence against women in our society and it was collective responsibility to stand against discrimination on gender lines.
Sumaira Samad said women were a victim of different forms of violence in almost all sectors of society whether it be workplace harassment, domestic violence, physical abuse, psychological abuse, forced marriage, rape, gender-based discrimination or economic abuse, adding that the WDD closely monitors the status of women in all provincial departments and submits its recommendation to the government for rectification through legislation.
The senior bureaucrat, to a query, regretted the fact that social media platforms and some mainstream media outlets encouraged pseudo scholars who promoted vain gender-based views lacking fluidity, adding that there was need to promote gender parity for a balanced and prosperous society. ‘Women make up half of the world and a society can’t move forward if they are persecuted and exploited,’ she remarked.
