Nine awardees receive recognition for efforts to end violence against women
Zubair Qureshi
As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign kicked off across the globe, the UN Women Pakistan and the Swedish Embassy joined hands and celebrated the ‘champions’ who have played their part in accelerating efforts to end violence against women and girls in the past year.
The event titled ‘2020 in retrospective – Celebrating Pledges Made to End Violence Against Women’ was held on Friday at the Swedish residence and attended by the government officials, diplomats and other development partners.
While welcoming the guests, Swedish Ambassador Henrik Persson appreciated the concerted efforts of stakeholders to stand against gender-based violence.
He said in 2020, under the global theme of “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!” the UN Women Pakistan encouraged participants to make commitments for ending violence against women.
To appreciate the commitments and actions taken on pledges made, nine awards were presented to awardees from the Federal Capital, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh.
They include Amna Baig, Assistant Superintendent of Islamabad Police; Asad Qaiser, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan; Hayat Ali Shah, Director General, Federal Judicial Academy; Munazza Hassan, Secretary Women Parliamentary Caucus; Rukhshanda Naz, Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment at the Workplace KP; Nuzhat Shirin, Chairperson, Sindh Commission on the Status of Women; Sabira Islam, Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment at the Workplace Balochistan; Umair Khan,Communications Specialist at TransPeshawar and Zafar Buledi, Secretary, Women Development Department, Balochistan.
Sharmeela Rassool, Country Representative UN Women, applauded the meaningful steps taken by the awardees in solidarity for ending violence against women and girls.
Inamullah, Secretary Human Rights, as the chief guest of the ceremony said “Domestic violence acts have been promulgated by all four provincial governments.
In order to symbolize hope and a brighter future for women, UN Women Global Ambassador, Ms. Muniba Mazari recited a poem ‘Still I rise’ by Maya Angelou.
The event ended with a celebratory performance by Natasha Humera Ejaz, a singer and songwriter from Islamabad and member of the UN Women Pakistan team.
